Chapter 325: The World’s First Wonder

Chapter 325: The World's Most Marvelous Technique

Su Mo had sensed something strange from the beginning.

Jun Luo's so-called "world's most marvelous technique"—who even told him about it?

While the sun and moon sharing the sky naturally held profound mysteries within, Su Mo couldn’t believe a mere 'heart lamp' could completely neutralize his strength.

This world, this jianghu, ran on logic.

The height of one's martial prowess, the depth of one's internal energy, the sophistication of one's techniques—these were all measurable.

His own deep internal energy was the result of perfecting the DragonElephant Prajna Art, reaching the pinnacle of the Twelve Gates Golden Bell Shield, and cultivating the Purple Sun Sect's Radiant Sun Heart Sutra alongside the Nine-Nine Pure Yang Art.

Combined with the Yixuan Divine Art, which allowed him to freely merge and separate these various internal energies with seamless fluidity, he had attained peerless cultivation.

With such internal power, he wouldn’t call himself invincible, but he was certainly not someone the so-called Enlightened LampLighting Sutra could withstand.

Moreover, Jun Luo's mastery of this art was nowhere near perfection.

First, he had absorbed internal energy before the sun and moon could fully merge.

Second, the sun and moon energies had entered his body but were cut off by Su Mo, leaving the technique incomplete.

Even if they had merged, how could it be considered anywhere near mastery?

Yet, with this half-mastered technique, Jun Luo had managed to withstand so many of his attacks.

Even if the Nocturnal Sovereign were here, with his Eternal Night Demon Record, he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this.

If the Sect Leader Youquan had elevated his Youquan True Scripture to another level, perhaps he could have barely held on with his near-unkillable endurance.

But in comparison—how could the Enlightened LampLighting Sutra compete?

Now, Su Mo understood…

It ran on life force.

A single heart lamp, burning away Jun Luo’s lifespan.

Every attack he endured cost him his own life.

Su Mo stared at Jun Luo, now white-haired and hunched over, at a loss for words.

Jun Luo, however, was utterly bewildered.

"The heart flame… the heart flame…"

He coughed violently. "I… I relied on the heart flame…"

"How? Why?"

"This… this was supposed to be… the world's most marvelous technique!"

"Extraordinary indeed."

Su Mo nodded repeatedly, "This martial art of yours is truly unbelievably strange.

"After all, in all the world, techniques that burn one's own life are extremely rare.

"And those that can produce such power by burning one's own life—I’ve never even heard of them.

"Calling this the world’s most bizarre technique is entirely fitting."

These words nearly sent Jun Luo into a rage on the spot.

Unable to accept this reality, he tried to make hand signs, but his sight grew dim, and his qi flickered like a dying flame.

He had already exhausted his life—how could his qi remain?

That final strike that sent Madam Wan flying had drained everything from him.

Now, even if he wanted to channel his power, his 'weakened and spent' body had nothing left to muster.

HAHAHAHA!!!

Madam Wan, hearing their exchange, instantly understood what had happened.

She couldn’t help but burst into hysterical laughter.

"What perfect retribution! This is retribution indeed!!

"You treacherous snake, after all your scheming and effort, what you’ve gained is nothing but a broken shell!

"Hahaha… what perfect retribution!"

As she spoke, she spat blood.

Fighting to sit up, she collapsed several times, with no one to help her.

Su Mo looked on impassively, only turning his gaze to the surrounding corpses once she regained her balance.

For a moment, his eyes showed a flash of confusion.

After a long pause, he sighed heavily.

"I too… am facing retribution."

She looked up at Su Mo.

"Chief Escort Su, since you’re here now, it means the show earlier today was just a charade in front of the Fang family."

"You flatter me," Su Mo shook his head. "Madam’s performance was truly remarkable."

"..."

Madam Wan smiled bitterly.

"Chun’er said Yilan is also here?

"Could Chief Escort Su trouble himself to bring her to me?

"Now…"

She let out a long sigh as she spoke:

"Now that I am also on death's door, there are things I need to tell her."

No sooner had she spoken than footsteps echoed from the entrance.

The sounds came from two directions.

From one side entered Xu Lu, Li Xuechun, and Wan Yilan.

From the other came Wan Zangxin, carrying a one-legged bronze statue.

They took in the scene and stiffened in shock.

"Yilan..."

Madam Wan looked at Wan Yilan and lifted a trembling hand:

"Come here... Your mother needs to speak with you."

...

Anyone could see that Madam Wan was at death’s door.

By all rights, as a child, she should’ve rushed to her side.

Yet Wan Yilan hesitated.

Her parents were unlike any other parents in this world.

Not long ago, her father had siphoned off eighty percent of her inner strength.

Now, with her mother in such a state, who knew what she’d pull if she got close?

After a pause, Wan Zangxin stepped forward, grabbed Yilan’s wrist, and led her toward Madam Wan.

When Wan Yilan came within thirty feet of Jun Luo, Jun Luo made to strike again...

But in the next instant, Su Mo was already before him.

"...You."

Jun Luo had barely uttered a single word when a hand pressed against his dantian.

A dull crunch—his energy core ruptured.

Su Mo sealed a dozen pressure points in rapid succession across Jun Luo's body.

He then carefully examined Jun Luo's wrist, ensuring not a shred of energy lingered, before methodically snapped his limbs.

Jun Luo thrashed like a gutted fish, letting out agonized screams.

"Without internal energy to sustain you, has your spine gone soft too?"

Su Mo shook his head. "Mr. Jun is a cunning man. Even with his energy core ruptured, I can’t let my guard down. By all rights, I should pulp every last bone in his body to feel slightly reassured."

"But seeing him in such a broken-down state, even I can’t help feeling a twinge of pity."

"So, I will only break his limbs, so try to keep the screaming down."

"..."

Lord Jun's cloudy eyes were almost spitting fire.

He felt that what Su Mo said was not even human speech.

Only then did the others realize that this withered, white-haired old man was actually Lord Jun.

For a moment, they were puzzled, but also greatly relieved.

Wanyutang, who was being carried on Xu Lu’s back, had an even more complex look in his eyes.

There was both relief and sorrow.

Wanzangxin led Wanyilan to Madam Wan, who glanced over Wanzangxin a couple of times.

Then she looked at Wanyilan:

"Lan'er... Is this the person you love?"

"Mm."

Wanyilan nodded gently.

"He…"

She paused here, looking at Wanyutang, and then smiled bitterly:

"I see… Lan'er, your mother is not long for this world. Your father and I have deep enmity, and now he may be in grave danger."

"Whether I live or die remains uncertain.

"From now on, you may be left alone in this world.

"However, your fate is actually better than mine.

"In my life, I was always chasing what I couldn't have, and in the end, I lost my true self, sunk into inescapable delusions.

"I've wronged you, never fulfilling my duty as a mother.

"Lan’er... please don’t blame me."

"...I don’t blame you."

As the words reached this point, seeing Madam Wan in such distress, Wan Yilan’s heart clenched.

"You had your reasons, Mother. I’ve never blamed you."

She simply felt disappointed.

But there was no need to mention this disappointment.

Madam Wan was perceptive. Just by looking at Wan Yilan’s expression, she knew what was in her heart. With a soft sigh, she mustered her strength and took something from within her robes.

"Lan’er, come closer..."

She reached out her hand.

Wan Yilan instinctively glanced at Wan Zangxin, who responded with a slight nod.

Wan Yilan then stepped forward to stand before Madam Wan.

In Madam Wan's hand was an iron hairpin.

She passed it to Wan Yilan and said softly:

"Lan'er, you should know that your mother was born into the Hou family of the Western Frontier.

"But after I married into Wusheng Hall, the Hou family vanished from the martial world.

"Over the years, I never integrated the Hou family’s forces into Wusheng Hall, for this was one of my key tools in vying for control of Wusheng Hall.

"And I certainly wouldn’t let Ren Xiongfei seize them to use against the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"Now, as I face death, and you are my only daughter,

"I entrust this iron hairpin to you.

"The man you love is Wan Yutang’s son, and he will inevitably become Wusheng Hall’s next leader.

"With this hairpin in your hand, you will wield the Hou family’s remaining forces.

"At least you won’t go empty-handed when you wed.

"Most of my life has been spent in struggle and conflict.

"As a woman, I have never known happiness.

"Even in fleeting moments of abandon, I was never my own master.

"In this life, I have been unfaithful to my husband, brought no honor to my family, and failed you as a mother...

"Now, looking back... hahaha..."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh toward the heavens, her laughter filled with inexpressible grief:

"In the end, I’ve amounted to nothing..."

"Mother..."

Hearing this, Wan Yilan’s heart ached.

Instinctively, she stepped forward and took Madam Wan’s hand.

Madam Wan looked down, tears she could no longer suppress rolling down her cheeks in torrents:

"Don’t follow my path. You... you must live well..."

She clasped the iron hairpin into Wan Yilan’s hand and closed her fingers around it, as though this alone could give her peace.

After completing this final gesture, she looked up again at Wan Yutang.

Her gaze was more fraught than ever.

In her youth, she had been sharp and cunning, never conceding to any man.

After marrying Wan Yutang, she had believed she could use Wusheng Hall to reclaim her family’s standing.

But she never foresaw Wan Yutang’s heart belonging to another.

Regardless of whether there was any affection before, when she married him, she truly never thought of turning to another.

Now, seeing this man she once tied her hair with, he was no longer the heroic youth of years past.

And she... was already covered in filth.

She stammered:

"If there hadn’t been... if there hadn’t been that woman from East City...

"If not for... for your Qingmei...

"Would you... would you have looked at me?"

Wan Yutang had no intention of answering, but after a moment of silence, he sighed:

"No."

Madam Wan froze, then gave a silent smile before continuing:

"But... but... no matter what, believe this.

"I never... never sent anyone to kill her..."

"......"

Wan Yutang was momentarily stunned, but in the end, he could only sigh.

Yet she simply stared at him, as if transported back to a fleeting moment from years ago.

That dashing young man had, with just one glance, charged into her heart.

Ah, so that was the son of Wusheng Hall’s hall master... Wan Yutang!

"Mother... Mother!"

Wan Yilan called softly, but Madam Wan gave no answer.

A closer look revealed her eyes had finally dimmed.

After all, she was her own mother, and even in death, she had given her final counsel. Wan Yilan broke into sobs.

Wan Cangxin comforted her by her side, while Wan Yutang himself was overwhelmed with emotion.

But now, with all these unresolved feelings, the past wounds could never be healed, and the person was already gone.

No matter how tangled the emotions, all that remained was a soft sigh.

Su Mo observed the faces around him and shook his head lightly:

"A dying man’s words come from the heart...

"Madam Wan..."

As he spoke, his brow suddenly furrowed.

Thinking back on Madam Wan’s words, he raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Ren Xiongfei is still alive..."

He turned his gaze to Jun Luo:

"Jun Luo, do you know Ren Xiongfei?"

"...Hah."

At this point, Jun Luo had nothing left to fear.

Su Mo nodded without another word, reaching out to tap the acupoint at his sternum.

Then, grabbing the back of his collar, he addressed the group:

"Everyone, this affair is settled. The items in Jun Luo's secret chamber are still of great use to me.

"I’ll take the liberty of taking those things with me, with your permission."

Wan Zangxin naturally had no objections, but he couldn’t decide this alone. He instinctively glanced at Wan Yutang.

Wan Yutang cupped his fists and said:

"Young Hero, no need to stand on ceremony.

"Whatever you wish to take from here, help yourself.

"Wan Yutang won’t object."

"Then I thank you."

Without another word, Su Mo dragged Jun Luo toward the secret chamber.

The Profound Mechanism Lock had long been secured by him. Now, he proceeded to bundle up everything from the bookshelves and other items in the chamber.

Wan Yutang and the others looked on as he gathered the items, with Wan Zangxin even stepping forward to assist.

Finally, the group made their way out, led by Su Mo.

The trip passed without incident. When Su Mo had come earlier, he’d disabled every trap along the path.

With his mastery of the Twelve Gates Golden Bell Shield, he could barrel through any obstacle.

After leading everyone out, they’d barely stepped out when they saw a group.

At the front stood Li Zhongming, Lin Tao, Duan Qinghen, Ling Feimiao, and other Hall Masters of Wusheng Hall.

Xiao Feng was naturally among them, while on the other side stood Yang Xiaoyun, Hu Sandao, and Zhen Xiaoxiao.

The group had gathered around the entrance, clearly figuring out how to get in.

Yet, before they could act, Su Mo and his party emerged.

"Escort Chief Su!"

"Chun'er!"

"Miss!"

"Who’s he carrying?"

"That young man... why does he seem familiar?"

With so many people gathered here, the sudden appearance of Su Mo and his group immediately caused a chorus of gasps.

They closed in, eager to demand answers.

Su Mo knew that if they were stopped now, they would be entangled for quite some time.

He immediately barked:

"The rightful hall master of Wusheng Hall, Wan Yutang, is here!"

"What?"

Everyone followed the voice and saw the bedraggled figure on Xu Lu's back, whose remaining eye held a glint of something familiar.

Yet, who could believe it at a glance?

Wan Yutang first glanced at Li Zhongming and let out a chuckle:

"Li Dazhong...

"Twenty years have passed, and you're still playing the lordly act."

"..."

Li Zhongming was stunned—he hadn't heard that name in many years.

Then Wan Yutang shifted his gaze, sweeping over Lin Tao, Duan Qinghen, and Ling Feimiao, frowning slightly:

"Is this Lin Tao?

"When I was in torment, you were still a youth. Now you've become a hall master?

"In those days, before I left, I vowed to fetch you a pretty bride. Have you married yet?"

Hearing this, Lin Tao drew a sharp breath, eyes welling up:

"This... this...

"Those exact words the Hall Master said to me back then...

"Those were his very words!

"I always said the Hall Master wouldn’t forget this matter, so why did he never bring it up again later?

"Hall Master... you... what’s become of you?"

You can’t hide from those who know you.

The moment Wan Yutang spoke, whether it was Li Zhongming or Lin Tao, they instantly recognized him as the hall master of old.

They rushed forward and lifted Wan Yutang off Xu Lu’s back.

Slipping through the crowd, Su Mo edged away.

"Xiao Mo..."

Yang Xiaoyun looked Su Mo up and down, confirming he was unharmed before letting out a breath. Then, her gaze fell on the old-timer he was holding, and she paused:

"Who is this old-timer?"

"Jun Luo."

Su Mo grinned:

"He's really that old?"

Yang Xiaoyun gaped.

"I'll fill you in later..."

Su Mo paused briefly, glancing at Hu Sandao and Xu Lu:

"You guys can hang back at Wusheng Hall for now. We'll be back by dawn."

Hu Sandao, Xu Lu, and Zhen Xiaoxiao all answered at once.

But after agreeing, Zhen Xiaoxiao couldn't help but ask:

"Hey Boss, what about my food...?"

"Go ask the old guy inside."

Su Mo pointed at Wan Yutang, swarmed by the crowd.

With that, he grabbed Yang Xiaoyun's hand, hauled Jun Luo and a hefty sack with the other, then vanished in a flash.

……

……