Chapter 33: The Golden Emperor's Severing by the White Sovereign

"Such shouting and screaming!" The Dragon King was not worried in the least. "To cultivate the seventh level of physical refinement—internal fortification—means, as the name suggests, tempering the internal organs. Only when the organs are strong enough, as hard as steel, and the muscles throughout your body seem forged from iron, can you be said to have reached this realm. Now, the medicinal power is stirring the energy within you, constantly hammering at your organs as if forging steel, pounding your entire body to burn away every impurity. If your will isn't resolute, you might actually explode! If that happens, I’ll disappear with you!"

This was the Dragon King's way of showing his confidence in Chen Yuyi.

Chen Yuyi kept his eyes tightly shut, sweat pouring down his face like rain, enduring a pain he had never known before.

It felt as if he were suffering fire, frost, lightning, and endless blows; every cell in his body was under immense pressure.

"Still not enough. Swallow the remaining three pills!" The Dragon King thundered.

Chen Yuyi grabbed the last three black-gold pills and gulped them down.

Immediately, it was as if he had been struck by a mighty hammer, his body swelling like a balloon; the blood within seemed about to surge out, but he suppressed it with unyielding will.

Once he subdued the force, a sense of indescribable comfort gradually replaced the pain, and he slowly opened his eyes.

"Excellent, I was right about you. Your willpower is far stronger than I imagined," the Dragon King praised.

"What sort of pill is this, so fierce?" Chen Yuyi let out a breath, feeling as though he'd shed a layer of skin, but the light in his eyes was even more concentrated.

"I'll tell you the recipe once I refine more. As for the four pills left, they're just residue now—no longer useful to you. Make good use of them," the Dragon King said.

Chen Yuyi immediately stored away the four leftover pills. Even as residue, he knew they would have great effect on ordinary people.

"Although you haven't yet reached internal fortification, you’re halfway there. Your recent breakthroughs came too quickly; you haven’t built up much reserve. Don’t be impatient. With your current strength, no one can threaten you. Better to accumulate reserves for the next stage," the Dragon King advised.

Chen Yuyi pondered in silence and found the words rang true.

"Besides, with your body's current strength, you can now use the White Emperor Golden Sovereign Slash," the Dragon King continued.

"The White Emperor Golden Sovereign Slash?"

"Indeed. Though this technique isn't a divine power, if unleashed fully, its power rivals one. It's a move based on energy, not magic, so it's perfectly suited for you now. Its power will also grow as your cultivation increases."

With that, the Dragon King infused the technique into Chen Yuyi's mind.

"Transform the body, turn energy into a blade, and wherever you gaze, obliterate all in an instant!"

In that moment, Chen Yuyi felt as if he stood before a golden palace, facing all obstacles; his form became a platinum light, cleaving everything before him to emptiness.

"This White Emperor Golden Sovereign Slash is a potent instant-kill skill, relying on expending vast physical and energetic strength, and only usable by those with a powerful body. You can perform it now, though only in its embryonic form—not yet at the level you just envisioned. Still, it’s enough to destroy any master!" the Dragon King said with pride.

"Indeed, I feel now that nothing and no one is beyond my reach!" Chen Yuyi marveled as he came back to himself.

"Hah, that's nothing. Once you truly possess divine powers, you’ll be able to cleave the heavens themselves!" The Dragon King's words stirred a longing in Chen Yuyi.

As night deepened, Chen Yuyi quietly appeared at the entrance to the villa district.

Qin Guo seemed to have been waiting for him there for some time.

"Master Chen, shall we depart?" Qin Guo had even brought a car.

Chen Yuyi frowned slightly. "Don’t call me that anymore. I’m not used to it."

"Then I’ll call you Mr. Chen," Qin Guo replied.

"Suit yourself." Chen Yuyi got into the car, waved his hand, and said coolly, "Let’s go."

Qin Guo started the car and drove towards Zhang Kangcheng's luxurious villa at the foot of the mountain.

Chen Yuyi intended to settle matters tonight. Zhang Kangcheng had dared to target him; he would surely go after Sister Yan as well, which was unacceptable.

Sitting in the car, his gaze radiated a coldness that even Qin Guo, driving, could feel. The moonlight tonight seemed strangely alluring.

At the Zhang family mansion:

Since Qin Guo's previous disturbance, Zhang Kangcheng had beefed up security with several extra layers. Besides the guards, Mo Chengkong had brought in several experts.

Mo Chengkong dared not let his guard down now; both teams he had sent had vanished without a trace. He sensed a formidable figure lurking behind the scenes, possibly his equal in strength, making caution paramount.

He summoned all the experts he had managed to recruit, knowing that ordinary bodyguards would be useless if that person showed up.

He still sat drinking tea in the hall; Zhang Kangcheng, seeing him awake, dared not sleep himself, aware that something was amiss.

But he was troubled by these so-called experts. Since their arrival, they treated the mansion as their own, indulging in food and drink, and even assaulted one of his young maids. Zhang Kangcheng was furious but dared not protest.

Now he finally understood the saying about cuckoos occupying the magpie’s nest, and even began to regret his choices. But it was too late; he suspected that if he showed any sign of non-cooperation, Mo Chengkong might kill him.

Fortunately, Mo Chengkong had captured Zuo Hongshan’s daughter, giving him a trump card and some peace of mind.

Meanwhile, at Zuo Hongshan’s home:

Zuo Hongshan sat quietly on the sofa, smoking.

"Zhang Kangcheng, a mere real estate developer, dares to oppose me!" He tossed away his cigarette.

"Mo Chengkong and the young lady are almost certainly in Zhang Kangcheng’s villa," Jiang Kun said nearby.

"Did Mr. Chen really say that Qianhui would return safely?"

"Yes, Mr. Chen said so personally."

"Good. Remember, don’t let anyone interfere with Mr. Chen’s work!"

"Understood!" Jiang Kun withdrew.

"Master Shan, now you can rest easy," Ge Da said with a smile.

Zuo Hongshan's face relaxed. "What’s there to worry about?"

...

Zhang Kangcheng’s villa was built against the mountain, essentially a manor with imposing walls that kept visitors at bay.

Qin Guo parked the car in a concealed spot.

"Mr. Chen, the Zhang family’s mansion is vast. If I’d spent more time inside before, I might have taken Zhang Kangcheng’s life already," he said, still brooding over the previous events.

"Stay here. Don’t let anyone approach."

Chen Yuyi got out, hands clasped behind his back, and walked slowly toward the house.

"Who goes there?" A shout erupted as several guards spotted Chen Yuyi.

Seeing only a thin, young man, they spat contemptuously.

"Get lost! This isn’t your place!" A burly guard barked.

Chen Yuyi narrowed his eyes, raised his hand, and the guard’s feet suddenly left the ground, flying straight towards Chen Yuyi, who seized him by the neck, choking him until he kicked and gasped.

The others were stunned.

A sharp crack sounded as Chen Yuyi mercilessly snapped the guard’s neck.

The remaining guards recoiled in terror, some reaching for radios, others for weapons, some simply fleeing.

Chen Yuyi tossed the corpse at them.

With several muffled thuds and the crunch of breaking bones, the bodies were crushed to death.

Only one escaped. He was the timidest, already terrified when Chen Yuyi snapped his companion’s neck, and now, nearly fainting, he wet himself in fear.

"Take me inside," Chen Yuyi said quietly. These men were nothing but ants to him.

The survivor trembled, daring not resist, and led Chen Yuyi into the mansion, never once looking back.

As they neared a low building, the man suddenly bolted forward, screaming, "Second Master Gao, help!"

Chen Yuyi did not stop him, but watched coldly; ahead lay the guards’ lounge.

A burly, buzz-cut man emerged and scolded, "What’s all this shouting?"

"Second Master Gao, he, he, he..." The guard gasped, pointing at Chen Yuyi. Chen Yuyi’s gaze flashed; the man’s eyes widened, breath halted, and he dropped dead.

"Impressive," Second Master Gao remarked. He was a high-priced mercenary hired by Zhang Kangcheng, leader of the mansion’s front-guard. He assumed Chen Yuyi had used some secret technique, not realizing the man had died of fright.

The commotion drew a group of burly guards, all glaring, weapons drawn, hands on their belts.

They awaited orders from Second Master Gao before acting.

"If you don’t want to die, stand aside," Chen Yuyi said, uninterested in killing them.

Some guards burst out laughing.

"Kid, you’re looking for death!" Several guards, without waiting for orders, lunged at Chen Yuyi, daggers flashing coldly in the air, aiming at his chest.

Chen Yuyi didn’t even look as he raised his hand...