Chapter 345: The Dagger Appears

Chapter 345: The Dagger Revealed

The conversation between father and son had now sent chills through everyone present.

Wei Qixiong claimed that Wei Ruhan had sent assassins while he was practicing the Cosmic YinYang Mill Disc technique within the Endless Glacier, intending to kill him.

Wei Ruhan neither acknowledged nor refuted this accusation.

Yet, when Wei Ruhan asked his questions, Wei Qixiong answered without hesitation—laying bare the truth.

The death of Wei Qifeng years ago had indeed been his doing.

Even the incident where his own younger brother choked to death on an egg was his doing.

Wei Ruhan had schemed for years, all in search of an answer.

But in the end, the answer only left him disappointed.

Staring blankly at Wei Qixiong, he seemed to age years in an instant.

His chest heaved violently, his eyes growing cloudier. Pointing a trembling finger at Wei Qixiong, he said:

"You... you are truly heartless."

"How dare you say that!" Wei Qixiong snapped back furiously. "If you hadn’t struck first, would I be seeking revenge now?

"If I hadn’t been rescued back then, I would have died beneath that Endless Glacier.

"All these years, this hatred has consumed me day and night.

"A father trying to kill his own son—what a cruel joke!

"Father... if you wanted me dead, why not do the deed yourself?

"If it had been you, unfilial as I may be, I'd have laid down my life without hesitation.

"Why involve someone else?"

"... Hah."

Wei Ruhan muttered faintly:

"Who... did I send to do it?"

Wei Qixiong pointed at Huang Yuan. "Him, of course."

Huang Yuan looked bewildered.

"I... I didn’t!

"Second Young Master, we all objected to your decision to go to the Endless Glacier.

"We knew it was too perilous for such recklessness.

"But you stormed off, and none dared stand in your way."

"Why would I ever trek deep into the endless glaciers to ambush you?"

"After all this, you still deny it?"

Wei Qixiong suddenly yanked open his robe, baring his chest.

Three scars stood out on his left breast—wounds inflicted by finger strikes.

"Triple Ultimate Finger Strike!"

A voice cried out in shock:

"That’s the Triple Ultimate Finger Strike!"

The Triple Ultimate Finger Strike was the skill that made Huang Yuan famous. He later joined the Fallen Phoenix Alliance but stayed in the City Lord’s residence.

He started as Wei Ruhan’s bodyguard and gradually rose to become Wei Ruhan’s head steward.

Though people now referred to him as Steward Huang, long ago, he had earned the nickname "Three Fingers That Commanded the Realm."

"I might misjudge other techniques,

"But how could I possibly misrecognize the Triple Ultimate Finger Strike?

"Can you honestly say it wasn’t you—Huang Yuan—who struck my heart’s vital meridian with this very technique while I was in secluded cultivation?"

Wei Qixiong grew angrier as he spoke, his voice now like rolling thunder.

Huang Yuan was about to respond, but Wei Ruhan cut him off with a raised hand:

"Nothing we say matters now.

"If you must blame someone for the one who struck you back then, pin it on Old Huang…

"Just assume… it was this old man who tried to kill you…

"After all, your crimes are unforgivable, your cruelty knows no bounds… I can no longer spare you.

"Today, this old man shall purge our ranks."

"Purge our ranks?"

Wei Qixiong shook his head. "Old and weak, with no fight left.

"Even in your prime, you might not have been my match…

"All these years, I’ve trained in seclusion, mastering the Cosmic YinYang Mill Disc. My skills have peaked long ago.

"If you truly wish to fight me, you’re just asking for humiliation.

"But… you are, after all, my father. Though you’ve shown me no kindness, I won’t stoop to your cruelty.

"Here today, I’m still willing to let you keep your dignity.

"Step aside and hand over power. I shall take what’s rightfully mine.

"The Fallen Phoenix Alliance will be mine—I reclaim what was always mine.

"Even this granddaughter of yours, whose background I don’t even know, I shall spare and never harm."

As he finished speaking, Zeng Youwang suddenly stepped forward and spoke loudly:

"By now, the truth is plain to see.

"The Grand Alliance Leader long since fell from grace and is no longer fit to lead us.

"Wei Ziyi’s background is suspect, and her identity remains questionable.

"Now, she too must be stripped of her position as an Alliance Leader and barred from the race for the Grand Leadership of our Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"With the Second Young Master's return to the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, his skill in martial arts and leadership makes him worthy to assume a seat among the Alliance Leaders and vie for the top seat.

"I, Zeng Youwang, nominate the Second Young Master to inherit the Grand Leadership!"

"I second that!"

Xu Junsang immediately stood by Zeng Youwang's side.

"...I—I second it!"

Another voice came from a corner.

It was the battered Chi Lu.

He stepped forward hesitantly but eventually stood beside Xu Junsang and said:

"Now that the Second Young Master has returned... this... Little Wei... no, Wei Ziyi's identity is unclear.

"I won’t keep making the same mistake.

"Today marks the day the Fallen Phoenix Alliance sets things right."

This man was always a flip-flopper.

Previously, he had bowed to Wei Ruhan in fear of Su Mo's authority.

Now, with Su Mo absent and Wei Qixiong holding all the power, refusing to comply would likely mean not walking out alive today.

Just looking at the men Wei Qixiong had brought, none looked like pushovers.

Under such circumstances, Chi Lu wasn’t about to gamble with his life.

Moreover, since he had already submitted to Wei Ruhan, even if Su Mo returned, he could explain himself.

After all, Su Mo had only instructed him to answer to Wei Ruhan—nothing more.

The gaps left could be spun however he liked.

Wei Qixiong closed his eyes:

"Two Alliance Leaders gone, one new—counting myself, four of us are already in agreement.

"Wu Daoyou, Luo Ningguang, Hua Qianyu... the three of you, don’t be stubborn fools."

"Indeed, Alliance Leader Wu, a smart bird picks the right branch. I know you have big dreams—to become the Grand Alliance Leader and make your mark."

"But now that the Second Young Master is here, if we can work together to support him, he will surely bring our Fallen Phoenix Alliance to new heights!"

Zeng Youwang immediately said:

"Wu Daoyou, you should think twice before making your decision."

Wu Daoyou sighed deeply:

"Enough, enough. Given today's situation, it seems my dreams were just foolish hopes.

"Now that the Second Young Master has returned, there is nothing more to say.

"I yield completely!

"So... I support this."

After speaking, he went to stand on Wei Qixiong's other side.

Luo Ningguang, his face still bloody from combat, saw Wu Daoyou make his choice and stood beside him without another word.

His silent gesture spoke clearly.

Only Hua Qianyu remained.

Wei Qixiong looked at her, his brow slightly furrowed.

For some reason, she seemed strangely familiar.

Yet he was certain he didn’t know her.

Though Hua Qianyu was the City Lord of Heavenly Feather City and the Second Alliance Leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, by all rights, he should have recognized her.

But during these recent events—whether acting directly or indirectly—he had kept himself well hidden to avoid Wei Ruhan’s notice.

Thus, while he had long heard of Hua Qianyu, this was their first actual meeting.

Today, upon his return, she'd called him by name.

What was this about?

However, with pressing matters at hand, he had no time to dwell on it. He simply asked:

"And what does Hua Qianyu think?"

Hua Qianyu shook her head lightly:

"I'm just a woman—what can I really do or say?

"Naturally, you men will decide.

"Since you all support the returning Second Young Master, then I can only go along with it as well."

"Very well."

Zeng Youwang burst into laughter:

"City Lord Hua is both perceptive and tactful, a true outstanding figure among men, a heroine who rivals any hero, truly admirable."

Watching as Hua Qianyu gracefully rose and positioned herself beside Wu Daoyou,

Wei Qixiong then turned his gaze to Wei Ruhan:

"In the present circumstances, who has gained widespread support, and who has lost it?"

Wei Ruhan silently stared at Wei Qixiong, remaining silent.

Huang Yuan's face darkened as he began devising a plan to safely escort the young miss and Master away from danger.

Wei Ziyi stepped forward, placing herself before Wei Ruhan, though her gaze hesitated momentarily on Hua Qianyu.

In this world, anyone could choose to betray Wei Ruhan or even her, Wei Ziyi.

But Hua Qianyu never would.

Because... she was her mother.

Reviewing the day's events, an indescribable feeling had lingered in her heart.

It was as though an invisible hand was guiding events toward a certain outcome.

Yet, she couldn't discern where that force originated.

But when Hua Qianyu stood beside Wu Daoyou, Wei Ziyi understood.

That force came from behind.

She let out a quiet breath:

"Are you all attempting to usurp the position of Alliance Sovereign today?"

"That cuts deep."

Zeng Youwang sighed. "Today, we are not usurping anything. Wei Ruhan is unworthy of his position, his mind failing with age. He should have stepped down long ago."

"And you... your lineage is questionable. Who knows where you truly come from?"

"What does the Fallen Phoenix Alliance's affairs have to do with you?"

"If you have any sense, you should leave now. If you wish to return to Cold Moon Palace, we won't stop you."

"But if you insist on staying... don't blame us for showing no mercy and driving you out of the City Lord's residence, expelling you from Sunset City."

"After all, if you interfere in our alliance's affairs without cause, even Chief Escort Su couldn't rightly protest."

"High-sounding rhetoric, Alliance Leader Zeng. You've spoken far too much of it today."

Wei Ziyi casually drew her sword, pointing it diagonally at the ground:

"The Wei family has descendants who die in battle, but none who are driven out of Sunset City."

"No matter how you justify it, your actions today boil down to scheming for the seat."

"He claims I'm not the Wei family's granddaughter? Well, I say he's a masked pretender."

"Need I remind you, in Eternal Night Valley of the East City cult, they possess flesh-crafting arts to flay skin and fashion disguises."

"Who knows if this person's identity is real or fake?

"Have you truly verified it?"

"How dare you!"

Zeng Youwang snapped: "How dare you disrespect the Supreme Leader of our Fallen Phoenix Alliance!"

"The Supreme Leader stands behind me."

Wei Ziyi shook her head lightly: "Who knows what impostor stands beside you?"

"You!"

Zeng Youwang’s fury deepened.

After a pause, Wei Qixiong sighed:

"Enough. Save your breath. Care to throw her out of the City Lord's Manor?"

"I’ll handle it."

Zeng Youwang immediately spoke up and lunged forward.

Xu Junsang said nothing more and followed behind Zeng Youwang.

Chi Lu hesitated briefly before also stepping forward.

The matter was already settled—Wei Qixiong's succession as the Supreme Leader was a done deal.

He had originally supported Wei Ziyi, but if he couldn’t present proof of loyalty now, his future would be uncertain.

With that, the three leaders struck, surrounding Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi raised her head, her blade a silver streak as she took on all three at once.

As the star disciple of Cold Moon Palace, having once followed Su Mo, her martial arts prowess had never been fully revealed.

Today, she left the crowd in awe.

Within the fray, the young Miss Wei danced between strikes. Her sword was defensive, yet every thrust aimed to kill.

A single swing sent one leader scrambling.

Had it been just one of them, this slip of a girl might have taken their life in an instant.

The three leaders panicked more by the second, and even the onlookers were stunned.

Her reputation preceded her, but few had witnessed her in action.

Today, she lived up to the hype.

As the four tore through the hall, Wei Qixiong frowned deeply.

"What a joke," he muttered. "Pathetic. Three men against one girl?"

At this point, he suddenly turned to the man who had come with him:

"Care to show them what real power looks like?"

"Oh?"

The man cast a glance at Wei Qixiong and gave a slight smile:

"Very well. I came today to accompany you in this main event, yet as the show nears its end, I have yet to take the stage. That wouldn't be right."

With these words, he took a single step and was already in the crowd.

The moment this man appeared, Wei Ziyi immediately felt an intense pressure.

Looking up, she saw a figure clad entirely in black, his face veiled even in broad daylight.

His face was hard to make out.

Her brow furrowed slightly as she demanded:

"Name yourself!"

"You are unworthy!"

Without further ado, the newcomer raised a single palm, his movements simple yet infused with extraordinary internal energy. The moment his fingertips touched Wei Ziyi's sword, she felt a sharp pain in her wrist, making it difficult to maintain her grip.

A cold dread gripped her—she knew she faced a serious opponent and dared not underestimate him.

Immediately, she focused on her footwork, dancing between the four attackers. Relying on Cold Moon Palace's "Moon Tread," she managed to keep them at bay for the time being.

Yet Wei Ziyi was still young. Though her swordplay was exquisite and her footwork extraordinary,

amidst the combined assault of these four, she could barely maintain her composure. Her internal energy, after all, was not quite their equal.

In just a short moment, a frosty sheen surfaced on her face.

This was the manifestation of the Cold Moon Palace's ultimate art, the "Mystic Moon Jade Kun Art," being pushed to its limits. Moreover, a faint mist seemed to rise from the top of her head.

In contrast, the four attackers became more fluid in their attacks.

The three alliance leaders unleashed their ultimate techniques, while the last one to join the fray still kept 30% in reserve in every move.

Not only that, but from the moment he entered the fight, none of the techniques he used belonged to his sect's martial arts—all were basic techniques that could be learned at any martial arts school for a small fee.

Yet even so, he remained the one who pressed Wei Ziyi hardest.

"This is bullshit!"

Huang Yuan could no longer stand by and watch. He roared angrily:

"You old bastards, bullying our Young Miss for her youth?

"Four against one, the strong oppressing the weak—this is utterly despicable!!"

With that, he ignored Wei Ruhan's attempts to stop him and stepped into the fray. With a flick of his fingers, a crackling surge of energy shot straight toward Xu Junsang.

Though this sudden change was not entirely unexpected, Huang Yuan, having served as the chief steward for years without engaging in combat, still shocked everyone with skills that hadn't dulled since his heyday.

Xu Junsang, realizing he couldn't withstand the attack, was about to continue bearing down on Wei Ziyi when Zeng Youwang swiftly intercepted, blocking the strike.

At that moment, Chi Lu had just been forced back by a sword strike from Wei Ziyi.

The black-clad man seized the opportunity to strike, but as his palm was halfway through its motion, Wei Ziyi's figure suddenly blinked out of existence.

In the next instant, Wei Ziyi seemed to multiply across the sky!

Stars in Turmoil!

A blur of silhouettes and sword points—real and fake, solid and fleeting.

Wei Ziyi had been building power for this strike. Caught off guard, the black-clad man could only desperately parry the whirlwind of starlike blades.

It felt like a mere moment, yet also an eternity.

Finally, the countless Wei Ziyis coalesced into one, condensing into a single sword strike—"Starlight Thrust"!

The blade shot forward like a meteor racing toward the moon.

Distracted by the Stars in Turmoil, the black-clad man snapped back to focus too late—the sword was already upon him.

Immediately, he brought his palms together and pushed forward abruptly.

His palm strike was like he was pushing a mountain—unyielding as bedrock.

Wei Ziyi's sword tip was halted three inches from his palm, unable to advance further.

In that instant, sword qi and palm energy exploded outward.

The black-clad man's mask couldn't withstand the force, blown away to reveal his true face.

"Ren Xiongfei!"

"This is the hereditary technique of Wusheng Hall's Tenth Hall—the Mountain-Pushing Palm!"

Hearing this, Wei Ziyi connected it with Su Mo's earlier words, and the pieces suddenly clicked together in her mind.

In a flash, she understood:

"So that's it... Ren Xiongfei, you're a dead man!!!"

Ren Xiongfei, however, merely frowned slightly. After sweeping his gaze around and seeing neither Su Mo nor any further changes in the situation, he let out a harsh laugh:

"Young Miss Wei, I meant no harm today. But now, it seems I'll have to end you."

"Who do you think you can kill?"

Wei Ruhan's voice cut through the air like ice, his long-contained inner force finally unleashing its edge.

Ren Xiongfei turned to see the elderly man standing tall, not a trace of weakness remaining in his posture.

Startled, he uttered, "You—"

Before he could finish, a sense of foreboding struck him.

Sure enough, a thunderous laugh erupted:

"Old man, since you still have fight left in you, today I'll let you experience my Cosmic YinYang Mill Disc!"

As he spoke, he took a step forward, the ground fracturing beneath his step.

The stone tiles warped and buckled before exploding into dust.

Leaping into the air, he channeled yin and yang energy into his palms, charging straight for Wei Ruhan.

Beside him, Hua Qianyu, Wu Daoyou, and Luo Ningguang shared a look before joining the assault simultaneously.

Wei Ruhan raised his eyes, exhaling deeply.

Watching Wei Qixiong close the distance in an instant, his gaze held a glimmer of sadness.

Before his palm strike even formed, a fierce wind arose. With a single raise of his hand, the father and son's palm forces clashed with explosive force!!