In the courtyard of the Xiao family estate, a man named Xiao Xun was cultivating. As the direct disciple of the Sect Master of the Mountain-Moving Sect, Xiao Xun had reached the early stage of the Sea Observation Realm by the age of thirty.
Although his accomplishments paled in comparison to those of disciples from the great sects, Xiao Xun was regarded as a genius within the Mountain-Moving Sect and most other sects in the world. Over the years, Xiao Xun would occasionally return to Baihe County, where he was treated like an emperor.
Here, he could indulge in whatever pleasures he desired. If anyone dared to oppose him, he could kill them without consequence. Life in Baihe County was nothing short of blissful freedom for him.
The Xiao family also exploited the influence of Xiao Xun's sect to amass wealth in Baihe County. There was even a saying in the county:
"A single dog of the Xiao family is worth more than the people of Baihe County."
This stemmed from an incident where someone accidentally kicked the Xiao family's dog. That person was beaten to death for the offense.
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"Son, son!" Xiao Laoye (Old Master), who was over sixty, rushed into the courtyard with a worried expression.
"What is it?" Xiao Xun's tone carried a hint of irritation.
"Son, something terrible has happened!" Xiao Laoye seemed utterly frantic.
Xiao Xun frowned. "Father, if something's wrong, just say it. Don't be so dramatic."
"Son, I just heard that the Imperial Son-in-law has gone mad! He's massacring the Sun family—killed the master, the madam, the steward, and even all their sons!" Xiao Laoye exclaimed in distress.
Xiao Xun paused, slightly surprised. "The Imperial Son-in-law? Which one?"
Xiao Laoye clapped his hands. "That Imperial Son-in-law! The one we talked about recently—Xu Ming, the brother of our county magistrate!"
Xiao Xun thought for a moment before recalling. Ah, that Xu Ming.
Xiao Xun had met Xu Ming once, during a banquet held to welcome the county magistrate. However, Xiao Xun had taken an immediate dislike to Xu Ming. He couldn't quite put his finger on why, but something about the man felt fundamentally different—alien, even.
"Did the Sun family do something to offend Xu Ming?" Xiao Xun asked.
"Who knows?" Xiao Laoye replied, pacing anxiously.
Seeing his father's nervous demeanor, Xiao Xun chuckled. "Father, why are you so worried? The death of the Sun family should be good news for us. Doesn't this mean we can take over their businesses?"
"Under normal circumstances, yes, I should be thrilled. I'd even throw a celebration," Xiao Laoye said, slapping his hand. "But the problem is, Xu Ming is coming here next!"
Xiao Xun: "..."
"Father, don't panic," Xiao Xun said with a faint smile. "I don't know why Xu Ming's acting crazy, but if he dares lay a hand on me, I'll kill him. Even Emperor Wu wouldn't dare say a word about it. Does Xu Ming really think he can do as he pleases?"
"But son, he's an Imperial Son-in-law…" Xiao Laoye was apprehensive about Xu Ming's status.
"Hah," Xiao Xun chuckled coldly. "First of all, Xu Ming isn't an Imperial Son-in-law anymore. And even if he were, so what? If he tries to kill me, I have every right to kill him."
"But son, are you confident about handling him?" Xiao Laoye asked nervously. His son might be fine if he killed Xu Ming—especially with the sect's protection—but what about himself? If things went south, he'd have to pack up and flee. That would take at least half a month to prepare.
"Xu Ming is nothing more than an uncouth martial artist," Xiao Xun said with disdain. "Sun Zhuang was only at the Cave Mansion Realm. It's no surprise he died to Xu Ming. But if Xu Ming thinks I'm as weak as Sun Zhuang, he's gravely mistaken."
"Son, if we can negotiate, let's try to negotiate. Whatever the issue is, let's resolve it peacefully," Xiao Laoye urged.
"Master! Young Master! Xu Ming has broken in!"
Just as Xiao Laoye finished speaking, a servant rushed in, panting heavily.
"Father, let's go meet him and see just how this Imperial Son-in-law plans to seek death," Xiao Xun said, eager for Xu Ming to act recklessly.
Currently, Xu Ming was still ranked 30th on the Qingyun Ranking. However, many believed that Xu Ming's placement was undeserved. Rumors suggested that during the death of Shen Sheng, Xu Ming had only landed the final blow after the man was besieged by others, including intervention from the imperial court of the Wu Kingdom. In essence, Xu Ming had simply claimed credit for someone else's work.
Now, if Xiao Xun could kill Xu Ming, wouldn't that mean he could ascend to the Qingyun Ranking during his final year at thirty?
The thought made Xiao Xun increasingly excited.
When Xiao Xun arrived at the front yard, he saw Xu Ming standing by the lake. Around him lay over a dozen of the Xiao family's servants, groaning in pain.
"Imperial Son-in-law? I'm not sure how our Xiao family has offended you..." Xiao Laoye's face was full of despair, as if he were about to burst into tears.
Xu Ming turned around and pulled out a document from his robes. He began to read aloud:
"Xiao Wu, a year ago, raped and murdered Lin Ke, the daughter of the Lin family in the eastern part of Baihe County. Colluded with the Qionglong Gang to violently seize others' farmland and extorted protection fees from merchants in East Street...
Xiao Xun, direct disciple of the Mountain-Moving Sect. Had a conflict with the son of the Qian family in Baihe County, leading to the extermination of the entire Qian household. Coveted the wife of the Yue family's young master and, in front of Yue himself, forcibly defiled both the wife and the daughter..."
Xu Ming listed their crimes one by one.
When he finished, Xu Ming asked, "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"Hah." Xiao Xun sneered. "Empty words. Imperial Son-in-law, no matter what you claim, you need evidence to back it up. Or are you suggesting that just because you say so, it must be true? Is there no law left in the Wu Kingdom?"
Xu Ming shook his head. "I admit, I haven't found the evidence yet, but..."
Xu Ming took the jade pendant from his waist and held it up, letting it sway in his hand. "His Majesty bestowed upon me this Water Dragon Pendant, granting me the authority to act first and report later."
Xiao Laoye's heart sank. Panic filled his chest, and he instinctively wanted to kneel and beg for mercy.
But Xiao Xun had already stepped forward, looking at Xu Ming with contempt. "So, Imperial Son-in-law, do you think you can kill me?"
Xu Ming's face remained calm. "Why don't you try and see?"
"Hah!"
With a cold laugh, Xiao Xun formed a hand seal, and several sharp spikes emerged from the ground. Xu Ming leapt into the air, but the Xiao family servants lying on the ground were impaled, their lives snuffed out instantly.
As Xu Ming landed, his toes lightly touched the tip of one of the spikes. He spoke, "The Mountain-Moving Sect is known for its mastery of earth-element techniques. Most of its disciples possess earth-aligned spiritual roots. It's said that when the sect's Earth God Technique is cultivated to a certain level, one can move entire mountains. I wonder, Young Master Xiao, how far have you progressed in your training?"
Xiao Xun let out a cold chuckle. "Far enough to kill you!"
He formed another hand seal, causing the ground to tremble. A massive earth dragon, made of stone and mud, erupted from the ground.
Xiao Laoye, terrified, fled in the opposite direction, fearing the fight would engulf him.
"Roar!"
The earth dragon lunged at Xu Ming, its massive body aiming to crush him into a pulp.
Xu Ming stood calmly, watching the crude construct hurtle toward him.
Just as the earth dragon was about to collide with him, Xu Ming threw a punch.
The contrast between his fist and the dragon's enormous head was stark, like an egg striking the forehead of an elephant.
Yet the dragon froze before Xu Ming.
Cracks began to spread from the dragon's head, running along its entire body.
"Boom!"
The dragon shattered into countless pieces, crumbling into dust at Xu Ming's feet.
With a deafening crash, the earth dragon crumbled into countless fragments, scattering across the ground.
"Impossible!"
Xiao Xun stared blankly at the scene before him.
He hadn't expected to kill Xu Ming in a single move—after all, Xu Ming was a warrior at the Heroic Soul Realm and deserved some measure of respect. However, Xiao Xun hadn't anticipated that Xu Ming would so effortlessly dismantle his technique.
"Pathetic," Xu Ming remarked, his hands clasped behind his back as he approached Xiao Xun.
At such close range, facing a Heroic Soul Realm warrior of Xu Ming's caliber, Xiao Xun knew his chances of survival were slim. For a fleeting moment, he even believed his end had come.
But Xu Ming merely stood there, his hands still behind his back, making no move to attack.
Xiao Xun quickly put some distance between them. Once his initial panic subsided, a wave of humiliation washed over him.
This Xu Ming was toying with him, treating him like a cat plays with a mouse!
"Go ahead, show me everything you've got. Don't hold back," Xu Ming said calmly.
Xu Ming had spent most of his past battles fighting magical beasts. Though he had clashed with sect cultivators before, those encounters usually involved him and Wu Yanhan ambushing their foes. His only true head-on fight was with Shen Sheng—a battle that had taken him to the brink of death.
Now, Xu Ming wanted to see how much pressure he would feel when dueling a cultivator of similar strength.
The answer, apparently, was not much.
Humiliated and enraged, Xiao Xun resolved to make this crude martial artist pay.
He drew a long spear made of stone and thrust it into the ground. The spear seemed to melt, merging completely with the earth.
"Hmm?" Xu Ming tilted his head as the stone spear suddenly shot up from where he had been standing moments ago.
He sidestepped, but another spear emerged from the ground, aiming for him.
Xu Ming leapt into the air, only for dozens of stone spears to shoot toward him, encircling him mid-flight.
"Die!" Xiao Xun clenched his fist, commanding the spears to converge on Xu Ming.
"Boom!"
An explosion rocked the Xiao estate, sending shards of stone and clouds of dust flying into the air.
Xu Ming descended through the debris, aiming a punch directly at Xiao Xun.
Xiao Xun quickly summoned a stone shield.
"Hm? Not bad—it's pretty sturdy," Xu Ming remarked as his fist slammed into the shield, leaving only a small dent.
Xu Ming stepped back to reassess. However, the shattered fragments of the stone spears began to reassemble themselves, returning to their original form and resuming their relentless pursuit.
Every time Xu Ming smashed a spear, it would reform and continue its assault, unending and tireless.
Seeing Xu Ming's increasingly disheveled state, Xiao Xun smirked.
This stone spear was something he had found in an ancient ruin and refined into his personal weapon. Once it locked onto a target, it would relentlessly hunt them until they were utterly destroyed.
Xu Ming kicked one of the spears aside, only for it to twist mid-air and lunge back at him.
Growing bored, Xu Ming decided it was time to end this game.
He reached out and grabbed the spear mid-flight.
The spear trembled violently in his grip, as if trying to escape, but it couldn't break free from Xu Ming's iron hold.
"What?!" Xiao Xun felt as though he were dreaming.
He knew that martial artists possessed incredible physical strength, but to forcibly restrain his stone spear? That would require a grip strength of at least ten thousand pounds!
How could this Xu Ming possibly achieve such a feat?!
Xu Ming held the stone spear as if it were Xiao Xun's wife, advancing step by step toward Xiao Xun.
[T/N: This sentence is really weird, but it's as it is.]
Suddenly, Xu Ming took a step forward, his speed so fast that he became a blur.
In a panic, Xiao Xun summoned his stone shield again.
Xu Ming clenched his fist, executing the Mountain-Splitting Punch—the Mountain-Shaking Form.
With a single strike, Xu Ming's fist shattered through the stone shield. The collision of a martial artist's essence and the spiritual energy of a broken artifact sent Xiao Xun flying, slamming him to the ground.
As Xiao Xun struggled to get up, Xu Ming stepped on his chest.
"You… you can't kill me! I'm the direct disciple of the Sect Master of Mountain-Moving Sect! If you kill me, Mountain-Moving Sect won't let—"
Before Xiao Xun could finish the word "you," Xu Ming plunged the stone spear into his heart.
As Xiao Xun breathed his last, the spear stopped trembling, becoming as lifeless as its wielder, now embedded in Xiao Xun's chest.
Not far away, Old Master Xiao watched his son's life fade. Scrambling to his feet, he tried to flee toward the rear courtyard.
Xu Ming pulled the spear free and, with a flick of his foot, sent it flying. The spear pierced through the old man's heart, ending his escape.
Xu Ming did not leave the Xiao estate. As he had done at the Sun estate, he began methodically eliminating everyone listed in his records.
Before long, news of his actions reached the Zhang and Li families, but by the time they realized what was happening, Xu Ming had already kicked down their doors and bathed their estates in blood.
Xu Ming initially considered sparing the head of the Li family to interrogate him about Li Hui's involvement with the Black Lotus Sect. However, the moment Xu Ming approached him, the man suddenly burst into a pool of blood, leaving no chance for questioning.
By the time Xu Ming had finished, the four major families of Baihe County had been purged of every individual guilty of heinous crimes. The sprawling network of influence they had built collapsed entirely.
Seizing the moment, Xu Pangda used an iron hand to assert control over the county office. No one dared defy his orders. With the core members of the four families dead, the remaining officials feared the killer might come for them next.
Xu Pangda ordered a thorough investigation into the unresolved cases tied to the four families. No one dared drag their feet.
With Xu Ming's reputation as a ruthless enforcer, Xu Pangda managed to completely subdue Baihe County's bureaucracy.
Taking advantage of the situation, Xu Pangda issued a new decree, encouraging the public to report the crimes of the four major families. Those who confessed their own crimes and provided evidence against others were promised leniency and rewards.
As Baihe County was thrown into unprecedented upheaval, a man hurriedly penned a letter and sent it straight to the capital, Wudu.