"Waixi Town?!"
The head of the sect clasped his fists and paused for a moment, then smiled kindly.
"Yang Senior, you're talking about things from several years ago. It's called Xiaojianhu now."
Yang Gang was a figure from over thirty years ago, an experienced expert in the martial world. Addressing him as "senior" was both appropriate and a way to establish a closer relationship. It made sense to do so.
Yang Gang sneered, stepped onto the shore, and let the lotus sink into the water. He smiled and said,
"Thirty-five years ago, I entered the immortal sect to cultivate. That same year, my younger brother enlisted in the army. We thought both of us would have a future."
"But unexpectedly, on the eve of my departure from the mountain, a fellow disciple used divination techniques and predicted that my brother died in Waixi Town, exactly thirty-five years ago!"
He held a Qingsteel sword, and with a slight tremor of his arm, the sword produced a crisp sound that echoed in the ears, carrying a strong sense of decisiveness.
"Now that you've renamed Waixi Town to Xiaojianhu, I request that you find the murderer who killed my brother. And anyone related to the murderer, I will kill them all!"
As Yang Gang spoke these words, his tone had turned icy cold, and his aura surged, causing explosions in the surroundings.
The heads of the four major sects' gazes narrowed, instantly realizing that Yang Gang was not someone they could contend with.
One of the sect leaders reluctantly clasped his fists and said,
"Senior, these are events from thirty-five years ago. We settled in Xiaojianhu... Waixi Town only ten years ago. How can we find the murderer from thirty-five years ago?"
The other sect leaders nodded in agreement, indeed finding themselves in a difficult situation.
Yang Gang narrowed his eyes, scanning the four people. He pointed his Qingsteel sword at the frontmost sect leader and said coldly,
"The divination shows that this person is still in Waixi Town, alive and has never left Waixi Town in the past thirty-five years. Call the person who has never left, and I will have my own way of discerning."
"Never left?" The sect leaders murmured, furrowing their brows and discussing among themselves.
"If someone hasn't left for thirty-five years, they must be a local figure in Waixi Town. I will have my subordinates investigate. They will provide you with an answer immediately."
Yang Gang lowered his gaze, not looking at the four sect leaders, and casually extended a hand, raising three fingers with indifference.
"I'll give you three hours. If there's no news, I will kill one of you."
He spoke of killing with bare words, devoid of any emotion, as if cutting down the four martial arts experts before him was as simple as lifting a finger.
Cold sweat broke out on the backs of the four sect leaders, hastily responding, "Certainly, certainly."
Time passed as the sun moved across the sky.
Birds in the sky chirped as they flew toward the mountains.
"Noisy." Yang Gang snorted coldly, flicked his finger, and a burst of energy shot forth, exploding in the sky, shattering the bodies of the birds, with blood and flesh splattering.
The four sect leaders swallowed a mouthful of saliva, feeling that Yang Gang's temper was truly difficult. He even wanted to shoot down passing birds.
If they couldn't find any news later, Yang Gang might really carry out a killing.
Three hours wasn't a long time.
Soon, someone came to report the news.
"Master, ever since we transformed into a small riverside community, all the residents of the former Weixi Town have moved away. There isn't a single resident left from the original Weixi Town."
"Hmm?" Yang Gang snorted coldly, lifted his Qinggang Sword, his gaze filled with killing intent, and replied, "It seems that today one of you is destined to die."
The four sect masters quickly spoke up.
"Elder, please don't be hasty. Although they have moved away, we can find out where they went. As long as you give us time, we will definitely find out for you."
"Yes, yes, as long as you give us more time, we will surely find useful information for you."
Yang Gang sneered, a sword aura emanated from his Qinggang Sword, and he retorted to the four men.
"The most luxurious thing I have now is time."
The Qinggang Sword exploded with a loud bang, and the sword aura burst in the air, even stirring up a violent wind, flowing backward!
After the sword aura passed, the sect master at the forefront was unable to speak, and a clearly visible bloodstain appeared on his neck.
With a heavy thud, this sect master was completely dead.
The remaining three people trembled, their bodies shivering. They knew that Yang Gang was not joking and was truly prepared to take action.
A sect master, a master in the martial world, died so simply and plainly.
Like a stray dog on the side of the road, dead without any fluctuations, like a domesticated pig.
A cruel smile curled up at the corner of Yang Gang's mouth. He reached out once again, showing three fingers, and chuckled.
"If there is no useful information after three hours, I will kill one of you."
The three sect masters trembled, watching the blood still flowing from the corpse of another person, they quickly nodded and gestured to their subordinates to use all means to search.
The subordinates, the martial heroes, did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly left. The entire Weixi Town entered an extremely busy state at this moment, with the martial heroes constantly running around, gathering information.
The three sect masters approached Yang Gang with smiles, respectfully asking.
"Elder, if it's possible for you to calculate, could you calculate some other information for us so that we can go and search?"
Yang Gang coldly and disdainfully replied, "The methods of calculation by immortals have many limitations. It's not that you can calculate whatever you want to know. You mundane beings don't understand, and you shouldn't speak presumptuously."
"Yes, yes." The three sect masters quickly nodded, not daring to say more, bowing their heads and remaining silent, hoping that their subordinates could quickly bring useful information.
Yang Gang lowered his eyebrows and suddenly asked, "What is the current situation and power structure of the martial world? Who is in charge, and who are the top experts?"
The three sect masters quickly replied.
"The one in charge is still the Martial Alliance Master, Yue Qianqiu. As for the top experts, there have been significant changes. Currently, the leader of the top ten experts is Zuo Feiyang from Mount Laomiao. His internal energy is as deep as a mountain, and he has crossed the sea alone, reaching a height of three hundred meters, with a hint of an immortal's demeanor."
Yang Gang lightly laughed with disdain and commented, "A frog at the bottom of the well, how can he be considered to have the demeanor of an immortal? Just crossing the sea and reaching a certain height."
The three sect masters quickly clasped their fists and bowed, "Compared to a true immortal like you, Zuo Feiyang indeed has many shortcomings."
"Continue," Yang Gang said with a contemptuous expression.
The three sect masters continued to recount.
"The second is the supreme expert of the Patrol Bureau, surpassing all others in the court. The leader of the Patrol Bureau is Jiu Qiansui."
"Hmph." Yang Gang shook his head disdainfully, "The Great Song Dynasty is on the verge of collapse. The emperor has come to my master countless times, begging for his help. This Jiu Qiansui is merely a peak among mortals."
"Indeed, Senior is right," the three sect leaders hurriedly agreed and continued.
"The third is the revered monk Guiji from the Dragon-Keeping Temple. However, he has not appeared for five years, and there are rumors that he is in seclusion. We don't know the specifics."
When the Dragon-Keeping Temple was mentioned, Yang Gang's eyes flashed, and he nodded slightly, his tone no longer as contemptuous as before.
"The Dragon-Keeping Temple is alright, it has some secrets, considered the heritage left behind from two hundred years ago."
The three sect leaders were somewhat surprised by this insider information but didn't dare to ask any more questions. They continued to introduce the remaining experts one by one.
"Is that all?" Yang Gang sneered, a hint of disdain on his lips. "The current martial world is not progressing but regressing."
The three sect leaders hesitated for a moment, then continued, "In addition to the top ten experts, there are also two immortals who are so powerful that they are not included in the rankings."
"Oh?" Yang Gang raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by these two immortals. He smirked and asked, "Who are these individuals who dare to call themselves immortals?"
The three experts nodded hastily, "You must surely know the first one, your master, the first immortal of the Great Song Dynasty."
Yang Gang nodded, "Yes, I naturally know that. My master is indeed not to be compared with ordinary people. However..."
His gaze turned sharp, radiating a cold light, as he asked coldly, "Who exactly is this person who dares to be ranked alongside my master as one of the two immortals?"
"Thirty-five years ago, when I entered the immortal sect, I had no knowledge of such a person. Could it be that a cat or dog suddenly appeared out of nowhere and performed some tricks to deceive you?"
The three sect leaders shook their heads and explained, "You are unaware that this immortal emerged within the past thirty-five years. It is said that his strength can move mountains, and a single drop of water can kill. He used to be the mayor of Weixi Town."
Yang Gang narrowed his eyes, "If he can move mountains, then indeed he possesses immortal abilities. But have you seen him?"
The three sect leaders shook their heads, "That was ten years ago. We have only heard rumors, but many people have said it, so it should be true. Perhaps the residents of Weixi Town back then would know..."
At this point, the three sect leaders suddenly paused, as if remembering something. After a moment of hesitation, they continued.
"If we consider someone who has been in Weixi Town for the past thirty-five years and has never left, he should also be counted."
"But this person is an immortal, I'm afraid..."
Yang Gang's expression turned cold, and his sword hummed. He asked, "Afraid of what?"
"I'm afraid it might displease him, and this immortal is currently in seclusion," the three sect leaders hurriedly explained.
"Seclusion?" Yang Gang sneered, a cold smile on his lips. "Does seclusion mean I am not allowed to pay a visit? He is an immortal, and so am I."
"I may be a true immortal, but he might not be. 'True' and 'false' are just words, and 'false' carries more weight."
"Even if he can really move mountains, so what?"
A hint of madness appeared on Yang Gang's face as he brandished his azure steel sword, emitting a buzzing sound. He laughed arrogantly.
"Why shouldn't I give it a try?!"