Why do I have so many masters?

A nonsensical utterance.

From a distance of more than fifteen steps, a woman of extraordinary demeanor and dress sighed gently. Behind Wang Anfeng, the two swords vibrated incessantly as if stimulated; lightning snaked around the wooden sword, and the broad sword from Qingfeng Edge, restless, nearly leapt forward.

Wang Anfeng took a deep breath and reached directly for the hilt of the wooden sword.

Thunder clung to it, twining around his right forearm, momentarily mingled with faint Buddhist golden light, becoming even more furious and violent, as though facing the most unbearable atmosphere in the world.

He glanced upward and saw the woman, undeterminable whether human or celestial, slowly approaching him. Clouds above compressed in layers, nearly bearing down on the grand city of Jiangnan.

The clouds transformed continuously, creating the illusion of dragon figures dancing in the air.

After leaving Shaolin, the ever-casual Hong Luoyu suddenly appeared beside Wang Anfeng, his smile disappearing, his expression turning solemn, a hand resting on Wang Anfeng's shoulder, his right hand clasping the wooden sword.

Robust Inner Strength flowed into the wooden sword, momentarily suppressing the Divine Weapon that had acknowledged its master, its violent thunder coiling around the blade turning into a purple reminiscent of Sword Gang, unstable in its flow.

Talismans briefly emerged along the sword's spine then disappeared, the sword edge slightly raised, creating a standoff thirteen steps away from the barefoot woman.

Only then did the woman halt, the Golden Rope Jade Lock between her fingers and palm tinkling quietly. Her unadulterated gaze shifted from Wang Anfeng to Hong Luoyu.

A thunderous explosion occurred, as if a colossal whirlwind twisted into existence between them, its howling sound nearly a roar. This near-calamitous transformation, however, did no damage to the surrounding structures.

Wang Anfeng saw a fresh green willow leaf spiraling between them, yet remaining unscathed.

"Master Hong, what is this..."

Hong Luoyu chuckled, somehow having moved in front of Wang Anfeng. The Divine Wooden Sword in Wang Anfeng's hand, struggling to unleash its full power, was entwined in the thunder and tempest, truly worthy of the title Divine Weapon.

Hong Luoyu looked at the woman ahead, murmuring quietly,

"Stay behind later and keep yourself safe."

Wang Anfeng's expression shifted slightly.

Before he could ask, Hong Luoyu turned forward, bursting into loud laughter,

"A realm in itself, small though it may be, at its core and direction, is akin to that of the old fellows on Kunlun Mountain, where Yin meets Yang and the Five Elements are balanced. Hey, to think I'd encounter a true Great Grandmaster on just an outing. And such a beauty too, haha, not bad at all, this trip is well worth it."

"If those fellows knew, I wonder how envious they would be."

"My Martial Arts might not be the strongest, but my fortune surely exceeds theirs by far, hahaha..."

The woman's expression remained unchanged, taking another step forward.

Her gaze shifted from Hong Luoyu back to Wang Anfeng.

Bare feet touching the ground.

An intensely pure, chilling energy burst forth, as if reversing time to the harsh winter days instantly, Wang Anfeng's muscles tensed dramatically, the pure Yang Inner Strength in his meridians erupted like a flood, circulating at a previously unimaginable speed.

Under such intense stimulation, Wang Anfeng's layer of the Golden Bell Shield's Martial Body was almost unstoppable, instantly breaking through three acupoints. The external chilling Qi flooded his body, but turned into circulating Yang Inner Strength within less than a breath, filling those three acupoints.

Pain shot through his meridians, forcing Wang Anfeng to cry out involuntarily.

A violent explosion set off a surge of air like a waterfall.

The sound of a bell rang loud and clear, once, twice, thrice, until the sixth peal. A faint golden Buddhist Bell appeared, inverted over Wang Anfeng, adorned with the Prajna Heart Sutra, the Buddha's Strength Mountain Moving Sutra, the complete Twelve-Rank Diamond Sutra alongside other miraculous phenomena, with crimson golden Buddhist Scripture flowing across it.

Wang Anfeng breathed heavily, sweat beading on his forehead, although his aura surged dramatically.

Sixth Rank Golden Bell Shield, perfection achieved.

He even began to spontaneously challenge the Fifth Rank Golden Bell Shield's Martial Body.

Hong Luoyu's expression changed slightly, right hand holding the sword facing forward, left hand quickly tapping between Wang Anfeng and the barefoot woman. Instantly, the world twisted and the Qi Mechanism shattered, the transformation of Yin and Yang disappearing directly.

Wang Anfeng staggered back three steps, his aura rapidly calming down.

Now, only half a step remained to reach the Fifth Rank Realm.

Hong Luoyu let out a slight sigh of relief and looked up at the barefoot woman.

He noticed that her aura had gradually stabilized; the few flaws that were visible when she seemingly detached from this world had now disappeared, one completely, another dimmed.

As if realizing something, Hong Luoyu's expression turned cold, saying,

"Pure Yin Body, Pure Yin Internal Strength..."

The woman nodded agreeably and said,

"Moreover, surviving near-death experiences and descending three thousand zhang into the dead qi at the deepest part of Hanyuan."

"The coldest and most Yin place under heaven."

Wang Anfeng's expression slightly changed upon hearing this, his gaze falling on the Golden Rope Jade Lock entwined in the woman's hands. He thought of the Divine Weapon Manual he had seen years ago at the Wind Character Tower, and his heart was suddenly shocked, then violently stirred.

He had recognized this Divine Weapon, and naturally, he recognized its owner as well. That was why he was so shaken.

Among the various schools and ideologies, one of the nine streams, current leader of the Yin Yang Family.

Born into the Langya Wang Family, naturally intelligent, debated with contemporary Grandmasters at the age of eleven, later taken as the principal disciple, did not practice martial arts, only specialized in the study of Yin and Yang and the Four Seasons, at twenty-four, his Master passed away, sat in meditation at the base of the mountain for three years, witnessed the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms.

Spoke of the imbalance of Yin and Yang, led 371 people of Yin Yang Family northward, traveled over thirty thousand li, crossed three nations, maintaining the timing of Yin and Yang without a single loss, fame greatly increased, finally settled under Heaven Capital City of Great Qin.

At the age of thirty-one, he once visited the Kunlun Mountains, allegedly only half a step away from that elder, coveted by the people under heaven yet voluntarily withdrew his stepping right foot, bowed deeply and said, 'The path of the elder is not my path.' Shared a discussion for the duration of an incense stick, then turned back.

He did not practice martial arts when he ascended the mountain nor when he descended.

With the right foot stepping into that realm and the left foot out of Kunlun Mountains, walking down from Kunlun into Heavenly Sect, each step a heavenly ladder, directly entering the Great Grandmaster Realm.

The woman softly said,

"The master is only a step away from the Great Grandmaster, he should be able to tell that I bear no harm toward him. This time, I came solely to ask for help, to borrow the Dragon Qi and the Supreme Pure Yang Internal Force from his body."

Hong Luoyu's hand holding the longsword slightly turned, he indifferently said,

"I refuse."

The woman did not seem surprised and asked, "Why?"

Hong Luoyu, with a frivolous expression, casually said,

"Why?"

"Though you look young, who knows how old you are, maybe already a seventy-year-old granny. My disciple is tender inside and out, a pinch would squeeze out water, and to dual cultivate Yin and Yang with you would be too much of a loss."

"No, no, this deal is too unprofitable, won't do, won't do."

The woman's expression remained unchanged, patiently waiting until Hong Luoyu finished talking, then calmly said,

"The union of Yin and Yang in all things under heaven is the supreme Dao, never necessitating physical union, but rather circulating internal strength, simulating the flow of Yin and Yang, transforming heaven and earth."

"The master surely understands."

"Moreover, he would also receive considerable benefits by helping me."

"I can guarantee that he will enter the Grandmaster Realm within ten years without any repercussions."

"Would the master consider it?"

Her words held not a trace of insincerity. Hong Luoyu's face lost its frivolous expression, yet he still shook his head, saying, "Your kindness is appreciated, but Anfeng is not suited for this path."

Wang Anfeng, holding his sword, was not in the least bit tempted.

The woman smiled wistfully, seemingly undiscouraged, merely stepping to the side and said,

"The master has a good disciple, and he has a good master."

"Please feel free."

Hong Luoyu, holding his longsword upside down, showing no fear, walked forward with Wang Anfeng. The head of the Yin Yang Family, renowned since her youth, simply stood there, letting Hong Luoyu pass by. When Wang Anfeng brushed past her, she lowered her gaze and softly said,

"There is a disaster of bloodshed in your journey, remember to avoid it."

Wang Anfeng stopped in his tracks.

No one was behind him anymore.

PS: The second update for today is hereby presented...

Adjusting my state a bit, also thinking about the upcoming detailed outlines, writing a bit slowly.