CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: THE NATURE MASTER, KILLING WITH ONE PUNCH_1

As those hands fell upon their shoulders, the expressions of Xue Ren and Gu Zhao—the two demon heads—changed in unison, and their hearts pounded with terror.

They found themselves feeling as if suppressed by an enormous mountain, unable to move.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to leave."

The speaker was, naturally, Shen Mo, who had arrived travel-worn from his long journey.

He had arrived late, but he had also witnessed the arrogant display of these two demon heads.

He would not allow them to act tough and then simply flee.

"Release me!"

His face contorted with rage, Xue Ren, still pinned by Shen Mo’s hand on his shoulder, grabbed his Panlong Stick and lunged at Shen Mo.

Shen Mo neither dodged nor evaded. Instead, he extended his palm, meeting the powerful blow head-on. Then, he flicked his fingers.

"CLANG!"

The terrifying force, like the Yellow River bursting its banks, surged uncontrollably.

The web of Xue Ren’s hand throbbed with excruciating pain, making him unable to grip his stick, which Shen Mo snatched away.

"Too impetuous."

Shen Mo gripped the Panlong Stick and, with a surge of strength, thrust it forward.

"THUD!"

The long stick smashed directly into Xue Ren’s chest, sending him flying backward.

Blood splattered across the sky.

The entire scene fell deathly still.

How could this expert have appeared from nowhere? To think he could casually make a Nature Master vomit blood with a single strike!

"COUGH, COUGH..."

Xue Ren struggled to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of bloody foam. He stared at Shen Mo with dread, "Who on earth are you?"

To be able to shatter my offensive with a single blow and gravely injure me... Even if this young man before me hasn’t reached the threshold of a martial arts legend, he can’t be far from it.

How could such a figure exist in Tianyou City?

"It doesn’t matter who I am." Shen Mo glanced at him and spoke nonchalantly, "You only need to answer a few of my questions."

"I heard your Blood Robe Sect was wiped out five years ago. How did you manage to regroup in such a short time? Was it a fortunate Adventure, or is there a powerful figure guiding you from the shadows?"

Previously, the pinnacle of combat strength in Tianyou City was merely a half step to Nature Master.

Yet now, the Blood Robe Sect has suddenly produced four Nature Masters, and even one martial arts legend who surpasses the Nature Master realm. This is clearly unusual.

Although these Martial Arts Grandmasters were mere mortals in Shen Mo’s eyes, and he didn’t pay them much heed.

But when things were this abnormal, it usually meant trouble was brewing, and Shen Mo needed to get to the bottom of it.

"How could I reveal the secret matters of my Blood Robe Sect to you!" Xue Ren, despite having suffered a loss at Shen Mo’s hands, spoke defiantly, "No matter who you are, sir, I advise you not to interfere in the affairs of my Blood Robe Sect."

"Otherwise, it will bring you considerable trouble."

"Noisy," Shen Mo frowned slightly.

Seeing this fellow didn’t know what was good for him, Shen Mo immediately raised his fist and struck.

"You!" Xue Ren had initially planned to use the Sect Leader’s name to try and negotiate with this mysterious expert, hoping to probe his background.

He hadn’t expected the other party to be so decisive, ready to strike at the slightest disagreement if he didn’t cooperate.

Seeing the unstoppable Fist Energy approaching like a destructive gale, Xue Ren, in his panic, could only hastily raise his Panlong Stick to defend.

"BANG!"

The Panlong Stick, forged from Hundred Refined Iron and renowned for its exceptional hardness, was actually shattered by Shen Mo’s punch.

Then, the Fist Energy landed on Xue Ren.

This time, with an explosion of blood mist, Xue Ren’s body was violently torn apart—bones shattered, organs ruptured, and his form drenched in gore.

Finally, all signs of life vanished, and his mangled corpse crashed heavily to the ground.

This punch, packing nearly seven thousand pounds of force... no mortal could withstand it.

After accomplishing this, Shen Mo clenched his fist, quite satisfied with his display of power.

Having transmigrated so long ago, he had mostly fought demonic beasts and rarely clashed with humans.

Although Xue Ren before him was a mortal martial artist, his martial cultivation was by no means weak.

That a single punch from him could pulverize Xue Ren demonstrated power far exceeding the normal level of the Body Tempering Realm.

This was the effect of the Dragon Elephant Blood Fiend Body augmented by the Divine Power of Destiny.

Xue Ren was dead...

But the many martial artists present were so stunned their jaws nearly hit the floor.

That Nature Master, so arrogant and wreaking havoc just moments ago, was killed by a single punch from a young man?

Just how terrifying was this young man’s strength?

"Father, our Shen Family is saved!"

Just then, Shen Zhiyun, who had followed Shen Mo back to the estate, finally reached the inner hall.

Gazing at the crowded hall of guests, he exclaimed excitedly, "This Immortal Master is of our Shen bloodline! Father, he is Yuanchang’s son, cultivating in an immortal sect! I’ve been away these past few days precisely to rush to the immortal sect and invite him back!"

"Immortal Master?"

Hearing this term, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, finding it utterly unbelievable.

At this moment, witnessing Hall Master Xue lying dead, Gu Zhao was utterly horrified.

She activated her cultivation method, intending to use Cicada’s Escape to flee back to her sect for reinforcements.

But, it was futile.

Before Shen Mo, these so-called profound secret techniques of the martial arts realm were worthless.

"Planning to leave?"

He raised an eyebrow slightly. His hand closed around Gu Zhao’s shoulder, gripping it like a vise.

Then, he applied force through his palm.

"CRACK!"

Accompanied by the sound of shattering bone, the beautiful woman cried out in pain.

Shen Mo had pierced her scapula, leaving her with no strength to flee.

"Spa... Spare me..."

Feeling Shen Mo’s cold, indifferent gaze, Gu Zhao, who had been so wantonly arrogant moments before, now pleaded for mercy like a frightened child.

"Answer my questions honestly, and you may live."

Shen Mo ignored the others, directly pulling her into the inner hall for questioning.

The many powerful martial artists in and around the Shen Family courtyard dared not follow, remaining outside and whispering amongst themselves.

"The Shen Family... Since when did they have a descendant who is an Immortal Master?"

"Are these the methods of an immortal? A Nature Master couldn’t even withstand a single blow from him!"

"Regardless, this is tremendous news! With such a powerful ally for the righteous path in Tianyou City, why would we need to worry about the Blood Robe Sect not being annihilated?"

"This is a Heart Asking Talisman. Answer my questions honestly, and you will feel nothing amiss."

"If you dare to deceive me, this talisman will activate, and you will experience a pain as if your very bones are being gnawed away."

Shen Mo casually took a talisman from his Universe Bag and affixed it to Gu Zhao’s arm.

In truth, this talisman was not the so-called Heart Asking Talisman, but merely a Calming Charm that Shen Mo himself had refined.

Among celestial talismans, there indeed exist those with a heart-questioning function, but their rank is exceedingly high and their value immense—far beyond what the current Shen Mo could possess.

He said this only to exploit the ignorance of mortal martial artists.

However, Shen Mo’s ruse proved remarkably effective.

Upon hearing about the Heart Asking Talisman, Gu Zhao’s face turned deathly pale. "I would never dare to deceive you, Immortal Master," she stammered.

"You must have heard the questions I asked that old fellow earlier."

"He refused to cooperate, and so he died. Can you provide me with the answers?"

After a moment of hesitation, Gu Zhao said earnestly, "It is true... our Blood Robe Sect was indeed guided by an expert..."

Trembling with fear, Gu Zhao confessed everything. "Back then, when the Blood Robe Sect was annihilated, my younger brother and I were merely low-class disciples, treated like beasts of burden. We didn’t dare harbor thoughts of revenge; we only wanted to survive, like stray dogs seeking any path to live."

"But just as we escaped from the sect’s mountain gate, someone found us..."