Chapter Twenty-Six: The Four Grandmasters

The bowstrings snapped and trembled, and arrows poured down like rain, densely packed, leaving no room to hide or escape.

“What a spectacle!” Jiang Ming raised his head to behold the scene, unable to hold back a note of admiration.

He, too, made no attempt to dodge.

A low hum resonated…

In the next instant, his true energy surged forth, forming a thin golden membrane around him—none other than the Golden Bell Shield.

Arrows struck the shield, causing it to cave in again and again, yet its resilience was astonishing; none could pierce through.

Suddenly, a series of tremendous sounds erupted, and from atop the city wall, long spears descended.

No—these were ballista bolts, the kind seen only in the military. It was said such weapons could slay grandmasters, terrifyingly powerful instruments of death. At that moment, nine ballistae lined the wall, all aimed in his direction.

The surrounding experts who witnessed this scene all paled.

“The arrow rain is just a distraction; the ballista is the real threat. Let’s see if you survive!” Xiao Yingcheng’s expression revealed a hint of pleasure. “Even if you don’t die, a single bolt will cripple you. Then, killing you will be all the more satisfying.”

Elsewhere—

“No wonder the Xiao family reigns supreme. After years of managing Mount Refuge City, they've fortified it like an iron barrel. Even with an officer from Six Gates stationed here, the Xiao family’s might could not be suppressed. Judging by the situation, the city guard has become their private army, mobilized at will, and now even forbidden weapons like the ballista are deployed. Are they not afraid of imperial retribution?” He Qianshan frowned.

“They truly have no fear!” Bai Yunfei crossed his arms. “The Xiao family almost completely controls the city’s defense forces, representing authority. As for Commander Jiang? He’s branded a bandit. Using official power against outlaws—what could be more justified? Jiang is too proud. Not dodging the arrow rain is one thing; as a grandmaster, he can withstand it. But the ballista… can he really stop it?”

The group watched in silence.

Jiang Ming had certainly noticed the ballistae.

“I can’t stop them!”

He made his judgment instantly, yet still did not evade.

“If one layer is not enough, then two, three, four…”

The golden light around him shuddered and a second layer appeared, followed by a third, a fourth…

The nine ballista bolts arrived, striking the first layer of golden light, shredding it easily, then the second, the third…

Layer after layer was torn apart, but the nine bolts finally halted before him and dropped to the ground.

The golden glow continued to bloom—layer after layer, circle upon circle—exactly nine layers.

“Nine-layer Golden Bell Shield—my heavens, he’s mastered it! Even the venerable monks of Dalin Temple have never succeeded, yet he has!”

Exclamations echoed all around.

Bai Yunfei, He Qianshan, Xiao Yingcheng—all were visibly shaken.

The Golden Bell Shield was a peerless defensive art, notoriously difficult to master. Legend said only its creator had ever achieved success; other monks at most reached eight layers.

Even seven layers were rare.

And now, nine layers were witnessed.

“Strength cannot endure; endurance cannot hold!”

Jiang Ming had a newfound understanding.

The Golden Bell Shield consumed vast energy, too fierce and unyielding. Once activated, it was unstoppable, nearly invincible in defense, but lacking any softness.

It could not dissipate force, only withstand it through sheer might.

His face was pale, as if over-exerted.

Xiao Yingcheng, though terrified, breathed out in relief: “Nine-layer Golden Bell Shield… this is defying heaven. If he is not eliminated, the Xiao family is doomed. Fortunately, he is exhausted.”

“He startled me as well.” Xiao Yuanhai wiped cold sweat from his brow. “Nine layers, wielded at grandmaster strength—I could barely break it. But he's fatigued. That’s promising, very promising.”

“Then let’s continue!” Xiao Yingcheng waved his hand, unleashing another torrent of arrows and ballista bolts.

At that very moment, a figure rushed forward, face flushed and drenched in sweat, speaking urgently: “Master, the Black Iron Army is surrounded!”

“Surrounded? By whom? How is that possible? Didn’t the Six Gates remain inactive?” Xiao Yingcheng’s face changed, demanding answers.

“It’s the Heavenly Martial Army!”

“Impossible! Jiang Ming is here; even if the Heavenly Martial Army is strong, it only has Chang Qing, and he is merely at the first-class level. The Black Iron Army numbers eight hundred, all elite, with innate masters and many first-class experts. If they aren’t hunting the Heavenly Martial Army, how could they be surrounded?”

“It’s Lu Yuan who intervened.”

“Lu Yuan? Damn him! He dares oppose the Xiao family—courting death!” Xiao Yingcheng’s face darkened, fury blazing in his eyes.

“Moreover, the Heavenly Martial Army is terrifying; every one of them fights like a mad killer…”

“Even so, they couldn’t possibly be surrounded and slaughtered!” Xiao Yingcheng trembled, taking a deep breath to suppress his rage. He turned to Xiao Yuanhai, “Second Uncle, do we need to support them?”

“Killing Jiang Ming is our top priority,” Xiao Yuanhai replied. “If he lives, our family faces annihilation; if he dies, nothing else matters! The third wave’s encirclement by the Black Iron Army has failed. Notify the Liang family to assist. Furthermore…”

He paused, then spoke with a grimace, “Deploy the city defense forces—slaughter them!”

“If we do that, we’ll be caught red-handed…”

“At the point of life and death, what else matters? Besides, Jiang Ming is a greater threat to us than the imperial court. Afterward, offer a fortune in silver—most likely, it will smooth things over!”

“Very well!”

Jiang Ming’s eyes flickered toward them.

“City defense, Liang family!”

“I can’t wait any longer, or this killing will never end!”

With that thought, he spun his hands through the air, catching arrows and hurling them back, slaying the archers on the city wall one by one.

Ballista bolts were caught and thrown back, shattering all nine ballistae, but his face grew even paler.

His breathing was disordered, his aura unstable.

“Xiao Yingcheng—prepare to die!” Jiang Ming leaped into the air, charging toward the Xiao family’s patriarch. In midair, his hands swept forth, unleashing torrents of sword energy toward Xiao Yingcheng.

The sound of sword energy ripping through the air sent chills down the spine.

“How bold!” Xiao Yingcheng could no longer restrain himself, drawing his long sword and soaring up to meet the sword energy head-on.

Under the morning light, the sword gleamed, murderous intent surging.

Clang, clang, clang…

Sword energy clashed with the long sword, producing crisp sounds again and again.

“Yingcheng, be careful!” Xiao Yuanhai suddenly shouted.

He had thought that, with Xiao Yingcheng’s peak innate strength, he could easily withstand the sword energy, but now he realized those sword energies contained power that even he found terrifying.

He leaped up as he called out, but it was too late.

Clang—

The long sword could not withstand the sword energy of the Six Meridian Divine Sword, snapping in two. Another streak of sword energy shot toward the throat; as Xiao Yingcheng dodged, his heart could not escape.

“Heavenly Astral Battle Aura!”

Xiao Yingcheng unleashed his martial skill, true energy bursting forth to form a shield, but it was easily pierced by the sword energy, sinking into his heart.

“So strong!” He looked down, the hatred in his eyes fading as he plummeted from the sky.

“Yingcheng!” Xiao Yuanhai cried in anguish, unleashing a hurricane with a palm, “Jiang Ming, I will kill you!”

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yingcheng was dead.

Jiang Ming exchanged blows with Xiao Yuanhai.

Landing on the ground, he stumbled, clearly in poor condition. Yet he did not stop; employing Meteor Step, he moved like the wind and moon, leaving afterimages as he charged into the Xiao family ranks.

There were several innate masters, along with many Xiao family elites.

“Stay where you are!” Xiao Yuanhai roared in fury, but could not keep up.

Ah—

Screams echoed one after another; in moments, Jiang Ming had slain more than twenty, leaving none alive.

“Jiang Ming!” Xiao Yuanhai howled in bloody grief, “If I don’t kill you, I am not a man! Xiao Yuanrang, Liang Dashan, Liang Dahai—come forth!”

His furious roar shook the entire city.