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“Great Grandmaster? Disciple, did I hear you correctly? You, you said you’ve met a Great Grandmaster, and such a young one at that?”

Wu Yan’er’s master was a woman in her forties.

Named Jiang Yuying.

Her facial features were superior to ordinary people, and her skin did not become dry and yellow from living at the edge of the desert for many years; on the contrary, it was very fair. Perhaps due to practicing martial arts, she didn’t have many wrinkles, and her skin was quite taut.

At first glance, one might think she was only twenty-eight or twenty-nine, not yet thirty years old.

At the moment, Jiang Yuying was staring at Wu Yan’er in surprise, as well as Zhou Heng who had come here with Wu Yan’er, her eyes full of skepticism, not quite believing the words Wu Yan’er had just spoken.

As soon as Zhou Heng and Wu Yan’er had arrived here, Wu Yan’er couldn’t wait to tell her master, Jiang Yuying, that Zhou Heng was a Great Grandmaster of the Heavenly and Earthly Realm.

However, unlike Wu Yan’er’s shallow experience in the martial world, Jiang Yuying was an old hand in the jianghu.

She had been adventuring in the jianghu since she was seventeen or eighteen years old, and now had nearly thirty years of experience. Her martial arts had also reached the Gang Qi Realm, ranking her as top-tier among her peers, and there were very few people, especially men, that she could not see through.

Therefore, her first reaction upon hearing Wu Yan’er’s words was that her disciple had been deceived, fooled by a man. But when she saw Zhou Heng, she became somewhat relieved.

This young man was very handsome, strikingly attractive, like a dignified tree in the breeze. Her own disciple had just passed twenty, in the prime of her youth, so being tricked by a young man like him was not strange at all.

Yet, as an old-timer in the jianghu, Jiang Yuying naturally wouldn’t judge a person by their appearance alone, but she soon found that she couldn’t see through Zhou Heng at all.

The seemingly seventeen or eighteen-year-old young man standing there gave her a feeling of being unfathomably deep.

He was like a majestic mountain, where the peak couldn’t be seen, with only the ethereal clouds visible; or like a vast ocean, where the edges couldn’t be seen, with only the tide on the beach observable; or perhaps a boundless desert, with nothing but yellow sand stretching to infinity.

Merely focusing her gaze on him for a short while caused Jiang Yuying to feel her internal Gang Qi rapidly deplete as if she was directly beholding a tremendously powerful being, soon becoming weary to the point of headache.

At this moment, she finally confirmed that even if Zhou Heng wasn’t a Great Grandmaster from a Hidden World Sect, he must be a profound and enigmatic master, possibly already at the peak of the Gang Qi Realm.

Standing at the pinnacle just beneath the Heavenly and Earthly Realm.

As for the realm of Great Grandmaster, Jiang Yuying remained skeptical, because it was simply too incredible; Zhou Heng was just too young.

For thousands of years, there had never been such a young Great Grandmaster.

Unheard of!

Zhou Heng could see what was on Jiang Yuying’s mind and smiled, “It seems you do not believe me.”

Jiang Yuying didn’t try to hide it and nodded slightly, “That’s correct, I tend never to fully trust anyone whom I cannot see through.”

“Master!” Wu Yan’er became anxious upon hearing this, moving closer to Jiang Yuying and whispered, “Master, I have seen Mr. Zhou take action with my own eyes. He has the power to command wind and thunder, to create soldiers from paper; he is undoubtedly a Great Grandmaster.”

She feared that her master would offend the Great Grandmaster, causing the Clear Sand Sect to lose this rare opportunity and miss out on becoming a top-level sect like the Celestial Sun Sect.

Jiang Yuying paid no heed to Zhou Heng’s or Wu Yan’er’s words, still smiling at Zhou Heng, “Mr. Zhou, you must be weary from your travels. If there’s nothing pressing, would you care to stay at my humble abode temporarily?”

“I have been wandering here with no place to stay, so I have no objection to staying temporarily,” Zhou Heng said with a faint smile, but then he shook his head, “However, I am not lacking in silver, I could simply purchase a residence.”

“Haha,” Jiang Yuying laughed upon hearing this, covering her mouth and saying, “It is normal for people to buy property, but it’s the first time I’ve heard of someone wanting to buy a house here in Yellow Stone City. It seems you are truly unaware of the situation here.”

“Mr., Yellow Stone City is very chaotic; it is not a good place to buy property,” Wu Yan’er whispered as a warning. “Because it is on the edge of the desert, bandits thrive in the surrounding areas and often attack and loot the city.

“And it’s not just outside the city; even within, there are many pickpockets, some stealing money, others food, and every household dare not leave their homes unattended.”

“Then why exactly does your Clear Sand Sect stay here?” Zhou Heng asked with a playful smile.

“Our ancestral legacy cannot be discarded,” Jiang Yuying shook her head and sighed softly, “If it were possible to leave, I would have taken Yan’er away from Yellow Stone City long ago. This is not a good place.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Heng’s smile grew thicker upon hearing this, suggesting, “So, is it that you don’t want to leave, or that you cannot leave?”

“I am quite direct by nature and don’t really like it when people beat around the bush when talking to me. If you have any requests, just say them plainly.”

“…” Jiang Yuying fell silent upon hearing this, then let out a long sigh, her tone tinged with emotion, “It seems you must really be a Great Grandmaster of the Heavenly and Earthly Realm.”

Even though her heart was reluctant to believe it and her reason told her that a Great Grandmaster of the Heavenly and Earthly Realm absolutely couldn’t be so young, she had already noticed from Zhou Heng’s actions that this person was far from ordinary.

Such demeanor, such imposing presence, made her—a warrior at the Gang Qi Realm and a first-rate figure in the Jianghu—feel it was extraordinary.

Could this young man, who appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen, truly be a Great Grandmaster?!

Jiang Yuying’s heart began to waver.

Although Zhou Heng hadn’t said much, she had already sensitively perceived what these behaviors, this demeanor, and his words implied behind them.

It signified an incredibly strong foundation, an air of having everything under control, and all of it required an immensely powerful strength as its basis.

“What do you say?” Zhou Heng chuckled, “Miss Wu led me out of the desert, I might be able to help you both leave Yellow Stone City.”

Within his incredibly powerful Divine Sense Perception, he could discern “clearly” the struggle and confusion in Jiang Yuying’s emotions as though she were hesitating and feeling somewhat lost.

It seemed that Jiang Yuying and Wu Yan’er’s choice to stay in this ancient Yellow Stone City, surrounded by rolling yellow sand and living a rather impoverished life, was probably due to some other hidden reason.

“…” After a moment of silence, Jiang Yuying gently shook her head, “We appreciate your kindness, Yan’er and I understand, and we indeed have our difficulties, but they involve people who are no small matter, so it’s inconvenient to discuss in detail.”

“If you wish to leave this place and go to more prosperous areas, I can give you a map, as a token of gratitude for saving Yan’er.”

“Master…” Wu Yan’er wanted to continue persuading; after all, this was a Great Grandmaster of the Heavenly and Earthly Realm and very likely from a Hidden World Sect. How could they just part ways?

Dang, dang, dang!

Just then, a rapid gong sound came from outside the courtyard, immediately followed by the sounds of many people running and the clinking of metal.

It seemed they were getting ready for battle?

Zhou Heng’s ears twitched slightly, and he heard the faint vibrations under his feet. This wasn’t an earthquake, but a group of people riding horses approaching from a distance.

“Are these the bandits attacking the city to plunder, as you mentioned?” Zhou Heng looked towards Jiang Yuying and Wu Yan’er and chuckled, “Shall I go and take care of them for you?”

“They are not ordinary bandits,” Jiang Yuying shook her head, “These bandits were originally martial artists from the Central Plains. They offended the major sects and lost their place there, turning to banditry in this desert. They’re not lacking in strength.”

“I’ve heard that these bandits have five leaders, all of whom are high-level experts that have mastered Gang Qi,” Wu Yan’er added, “Including the chief and deputy chief, who are reportedly at the peak of the Gang Qi Realm.”

“The major sects?” Zhou Heng’s eyes narrowed slightly with a smile, “Are you referring to the Celestial Sun Sect, Wuji Gate, and Mount Wanxuan?”

“Besides these three sects, who else could drive those at the peak of the Gang Qi Realm to a point where they can’t even stand in the Central Plains?” Jiang Yuying sneered slightly, “Now, those in and around Yellow Stone City are mostly forced to this plight.”

“What about the Clear Sand Sect?” Zhou Heng chuckled, he could see that Jiang Yuying was an old veteran of Jianghu, and such a person was exactly what he needed.

What does being an old hand in Jianghu mean?

It means being privy to many hidden pieces of knowledge of the martial world. Even if such an old hand had been isolated from the bustling Central Plains for a long time, the information regarding various places and powers would generally still be accurate.

Having an old hand in Jianghu to guide the way would make it much easier, whether leaving Yellow Stone City for the affluent areas of the Central Plains or investigating the different Sects scattered around.

As for the map?

In such obviously primitive production conditions of ancient times, the maps made could not meet Zhou Heng’s standards for use; they were extremely difficult to utilize, only slightly better than waste paper.

What could be better than having a real person for navigation?

To Zhou Heng, Jiang Yuying undoubtedly was a very useful human navigator.

“We…” Jiang Yuying started, then hesitated.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just then, an urgent knocking came from outside the courtyard. Wu Yan’er went to open the door, and immediately four or five elderly men and women rushed in, faces full of panic.

“Lady Jiang, Lady Jiang! Hurry to the city walls with us, trouble has come, big trouble! This time, all five leaders of the bandits have appeared. Heroes Guo, Yang, Liu and the rest are having a hard time holding them up.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuying’s expression abruptly became solemn, her gaze shifting towards the direction outside Yellow Stone City. The five leaders of the bandits equated to three in the Gang Qi Realm and two at the peak of the Gang Qi Realm!

Such a force, even in the land of the Central Plains, would be considered a first-rate Sect.

In Yellow Stone City, including her, there were only seven at the Gang Qi Realm; though they outnumbered the bandits by one, none were at the peak of the Gang Qi Realm.

Often, being slightly superior in martial prowess is like being stronger than heaven itself.

The difference between the peak of the Gang Qi Realm and the Gang Qi Realm was truly profound, possibly with abilities and martial strength that were incomparable.

“I’ll go have a look.” Jiang Yuying nodded, then set out, while also instructing Wu Yan’er to take good care of Zhou Heng and not to neglect him.

“Care is not necessary.” Zhou Heng smiled, saying, “I’m also curious to see what these people at the peak of the Gang Qi Realm are capable of. Let’s go together.”

“You want to join as well?” Jiang Yuying was surprised. “If you go, you’ll have to fight the bandits.”

“Does Lady Jiang think I am not capable of killing?” Zhou Heng smiled and said, “Let’s go, lead the way ahead.”

“Then, thank you,” Jiang Yuying respectfully acknowledged and walked in front.

No matter if Zhou Heng was a real Great Grandmaster or not, but having reached the Gang Qi Realm was undoubted, and having one more fighter of such strength gave them more hope.

After they left, the elders couldn’t help but ask Wu Yan’er.

“Miss Wu, was that young man just now your junior brother? Is he a new disciple Lady Jiang has taken in?”

They were a bit curious.

Yellow Stone City wasn’t big, and many people knew each other, so it was clear to them that Zhou Heng was an outsider.

However, in their view, a youth of eighteen or nineteen certainly couldn’t be that strong, most likely a new disciple that Jiang Yuying had just accepted.

Yet, considering the way Jiang Yuying and Zhou Heng spoke to each other, it seemed not to be the case.

“Uncles and aunts, don’t talk nonsense, how could my master be Zhou Heng’s teacher,” Wu Yan’er hurriedly shook her head, saying, “He is a Grandmaster of the Heavenly and Earthly Realm.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned, their eyes wide and mouths agape.

Due to the frequent attacks and pillaging by bandits, Yellow Stone City more or less had an atmosphere of everyone practicing martial arts, even the old men and women were familiar with the different martial ranks and realms.

Thus, they also understood very well what being a Grandmaster meant.

“A Great Grandmaster?! ”

“That’s impossible, how could there be such a young Great Grandmaster?”

“Inconceivable, inconceivable.”

“Let’s go take a look at the city wall!”

The group of elderly men and women buzzed with discussion, then turned and left to head toward the walls of Yellow Stone City to see if Zhou Heng truly possessed the might of a Great Grandmaster.

Meanwhile, Zhou Heng and Jiang Yuying had already reached the city wall and encountered three middle-aged men covered in blood, vaulting onto the wall.

Beneath the wall, over a hundred mounted bandits were shouting wildly, especially the leading group of five, who were particularly arrogant and abusive.

“Heroes Guo, Yang, and Liu, are you alright?” Jiang Yuying knew these three and, seeing their severe injuries, inquired about their well-being while garnering attention from the medics present to treat them.

“Heroine Jiang has come, eh? It’s nothing serious, just some flesh wounds. I, old Guo, aah…”

This hero Guo had a total of thirteen wounds on his chest and back, the blood clotted with his clothing, and he could only use his sword as a cane to barely keep himself standing, grimacing in pain.

The other two men were more silent, but their injuries were not light either. One could tell they were somewhat desperate; the bandits’ five chiefs banding together were simply too strong.

The Gang Qi Realm warriors in the city were not all present; three had departed, leaving it at its weakest point.

What perfect timing!

“You all go ahead and focus on healing.” Jiang Yuying took a step forward, her gaze cold as she looked down at the bandits below, and spoke sternly, “What do you gentlemen think you are doing? Do you truly wish to end in mutual destruction?”

The bandits below burst into hearty laughter.

“Stinking wench, keep dreaming! Mutual destruction? Come down here, and let the master have his way with you first. I’ve wanted to play with you for so long, hahaha!”

“Jiang Yuying, twenty years ago, you were known in the martial world as the Fairy of the Cold River, and your reputation was indeed well-deserved. How about becoming my chief’s wife, eh?”

“And who’s that little brat next to you? Wouldn’t be your little boy toy, would he? Hahaha!”

“The Fairy of the Cold River, who never coyly refused any hero in the martial world, has started keeping a boy toy as well? Hahaha!”

“If you have any needs, Heroine Jiang, we brothers can surely satisfy you—much better than that pale-faced kid! That little white face looks so frail!”

The scornful shouting was incessant, utterly insulting, dragging Zhou Heng, who stood beside Jiang Yuying, into the fray with vulgar and indecent words.

Jiang Yuying was so angry that her whole body trembled, but she knew that with her strength alone, she was certainly no match for these powerful bandits. She had no choice but to look to Zhou Heng beside her.

Yet there was Zhou Heng, who had borrowed a longsword from hero Guo and was holding it casually in his hand, looking down at the bandits below with a slight chuckle, “Were you just talking about me?”

“That’s right, talking about you, you ball-less pretty boy!” A bandit laughed loudly, not taking Zhou Heng seriously at all.

In his view, Zhou Heng was only eighteen or nineteen years old, not possibly possessing any real strength—surely nothing more than Jiang Yuying’s boy toy, no threat at all.

But just as the bandit’s words fell—

Cling!!

A resounding clang of a sword vibrated through the air, and a flash of silver passed over the bandit’s neck. Instantly, blood gushed from his neck, and a head was lifted into the air on the point of a longsword.

This longsword, previously held by hero Guo, now hovered in mid-air without anyone holding it, and had severed the bandit’s neck, lifting his head into the sky.

In an instant, the whole place fell deathly silent, not even a crow to be heard, as more than a hundred bandits held their breath, staring dumbfounded at the scene before them.

Even the five Gang Qi Realm bandits were no exception; they too had never seen such an unfathomable technique.

Zhou Heng still stood atop the city wall, looking down at the bandits below, scanning the crowd with a soft laugh, “I’ll ask one more time, were you just talking about me?”