Chapter 1926: What Do You Use to Fight Me?

The Acting Prince shrieked repeatedly, never having experienced such agony. It felt as if his scalp was being ripped off. Normally, if someone combing his hair accidentally pulled a single strand and caused him pain, he would have already delivered a kick to their chest. But now, he wouldn't dare. He couldn't even show a hint of anger, only trying his best to appear pathetic, hoping the other party would take pity and ease their grip.

“Bastard!” An earth-shattering roar echoed as a terrifying aura enveloped the entire Meng Manor. Immediately, a beam of green light shot skyward, and the clouds above began to converge. In that instant, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to gravitate towards the Meng Manor.

Many individuals within various clans felt a sense of trepidation. With the Eight Dukes emerging once more, the political landscape of the capital was truly about to shift.

Meanwhile, within the Meng Manor, a figure descended slowly from the heavens, treading on auspicious clouds, and hovered in mid-air.

It was Meng Jing of the Meng family: the current Minister of Works, one of the legendary Eight Dukes of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a peak Grandmaster, and an expert in the Life-Soul Realm!

Zu An appraised him. He was an elderly man with white hair but a youthful complexion. Though clearly much older than Meng Yi, his skin was incredibly smooth, almost completely free of wrinkles. Aside from his grey hair, which marked him as an elder, he showed no other signs of advanced age.

Zu An's gaze fell upon the auspicious clouds beneath the man's feet. He thought, ‘This guy certainly knows how to make an entrance, coming up with such a unique way to appear.’

The old man's gaze swept across the scene like lightning. Everyone in the Meng Manor felt a bone-deep tremor, as if their very souls had been laid bare.

“Old Ancestor!” Meng Chan exclaimed, a mix of surprise and joy on her face. For years, the Meng family's Old Ancestor had been in secluded cultivation deep within the Meng Manor's most secret chambers, never once showing his face. Some outsiders even suspected he had passed away.

Only those within the Meng family knew he was still alive. His sole focus now was to further his cultivation, aspiring to become a true Earth Immortal, and he had no interest in other affairs.

Over the past few decades, the Meng family had, on several occasions, requested Meng Jing's assistance in dealing with formidable enemies, but he had never once responded. As time passed, everyone grew accustomed to resolving matters on their own, no longer expecting his intervention. Just moments ago, Meng Chan, at her wit's end, had simply blurted out a desperate plea, holding no real hope. She never imagined he would actually respond.

Seeing her tear-streaked face, trying to speak through her sobs, Meng Jing raised a hand. “No need to say more,” he stated, “I know everything already.”

Meng Chan thought, *The Old Ancestor truly lives up to his name; nothing that happened in this manor escaped his notice.* But if he knew everything, why didn't he intervene earlier? Could it be, as the rumors suggested, that such powerful figures remain dormant whenever possible, and each time they act, their already limited lifespan is further depleted?

Meng Jing looked at Zu An. “That aura of yours, the one that terrified the manor's guest cultivators into paralysis, must be some sort of domain,” he stated. “It appears you're also a Grandmaster. No wonder incompetents like Meng Yi suffered such a devastating defeat. Are you currently in the Spirit-Wisdom Realm, the Sky-Rush Realm, or perhaps the Life-Soul Realm?”

These are, in order, the three realms of Grandmasters. The Spirit-Wisdom Realm involves cultivating the Spirit-Wisdom Soul in the glabella, allowing one to generate a domain that aids in combat – this is the fundamental distinction between a Grandmaster and a Master. The Sky-Rush Realm, conversely, marks the beginning of Yin Spirit cultivation, enabling the Yin Spirit to leave the body. The Life-Soul Realm involves cultivating a Life Soul, which enables the Yin Spirit to roam freely during the day, unafraid of the scorching sun. This state is merely a single step away from becoming an Earth Immortal. Meng Jing himself was at the pinnacle of the Life-Soul Realm.

He had never imagined the Meng family would suffer such a significant loss this time, but then again, no one could have foreseen it. According to intelligence, this young man had only been cultivating for a mere three years, at most. Who could have ever conceived that he, from knowing absolutely nothing, could achieve the Grandmaster realm in just three short years? Not only in the past millennium but in the entire recorded history of humanity, such an individual has never existed. It was no wonder Meng Yi and his cohorts made such a critical misjudgment.

Zu An replied calmly, “What, do you intend to probe my limits before you dare to make a move?”

Upon hearing this, Meng Jing burst into laughter, his mirth soon echoing throughout the entire capital, rattling every house. “You brat,” he scoffed, “you do possess some skill to reach the Grandmaster realm at such a young age. It's only natural to be a bit arrogant and unrestrained. Unfortunately, your foundation is too shallow. You have no comprehension of the deep heritage of our venerable clans, nor do you grasp the terrifying power of veteran Grandmasters like us.”

As he finished speaking, a peculiar light suddenly flickered in his eyes. Almost simultaneously, the Acting Prince's eyes also gleamed with the same light. His face no longer held its previous timid and cowardly expression; instead, his demeanor bore a striking resemblance to Meng Jing's. He suddenly transformed his hand into a claw and thrust backward, aiming directly for Zu An's dantian and qi sea, while his other hand simultaneously struck at Zu An's vital neck point. The aura that erupted from him in that instant was shockingly powerful and exaggerated.

Meng Chan, standing nearby, widened her eyes. *How did my husband suddenly become so unfamiliar? Don't I know whether he possesses such ability?* At such close range, facing a sudden sneak attack from an opponent with Grandmaster-level combat power, Zu An had no choice but to release his grip on Meng Chan's shoulder. Feeling as if she had received a great pardon, she quickly fled forward to save her life, taking refuge behind the Old Ancestor.

She glanced back and her eyes immediately widened in shock. *The battle was already over?* She saw the Acting Prince screaming relentlessly. His arms had been broken, and he was once again under Zu An's control. Moreover, his face had reverted to the familiar expression of her husband.

Zu An glanced at Meng Jing with a hint of surprise. “Was that a Yin Spirit possession from the Life-Soul Realm just now? Quite intriguing.”

Grandmasters in the Life-Soul Realm can enable their Yin Spirits to move freely without fear of the scorching sun. This allows them to attach to objects, achieving feats such as decapitating enemies with flying swords from a thousand miles away. Furthermore, Yin Spirits can temporarily possess other individuals. Just now, it was evident that Meng Jing had suddenly possessed the Acting Prince, intending to launch a surprise attack on Zu An. He couldn't help but feel a touch of envy. His own cultivation realm, ever since its mutation due to the combined influence of the Kunpeng and Taotie Heaven-Devouring Art and the Keyboard System, had progressed vastly differently from other cultivators. Despite his undeniable combat prowess, he inexplicably lacked these flashy divine abilities.

As the Acting Prince Consort and a descendant of a prominent noble family, Meng Chan had heard whispers of such things. A sudden chill ran down her spine. *What if the Old Ancestor secretly possessed my husband one day? Ugh, the mere thought is repulsive.* However, she quickly composed herself. After possession, the possessed individual's demeanor and personality often differed significantly from their own. While other ignorant or foolish women might not notice, someone as astute as herself could never be deceived.

Meng Jing, now also looking at Zu An in shock, said, “I didn't expect your reactions to be so quick, nor your close-quarters combat to be so formidable.” Although the possessed target's strength was far less than his own, it still wielded at least thirty percent of his power. A surprise attack under such circumstances would have severely wounded any other less experienced Grandmaster. Then, without waiting for a response, he spoke coldly, “Very well. Since you possess some skill, I shall grant you a chance to live.”

“Release the Acting Prince, then break your own arms and kowtow in apology to the Meng family. For every person you just killed, kowtow once. From this day forward, you will serve as a slave in the Meng family, and I shall spare your life.”

“And what if I don't?” Zu An smiled faintly, reaching out to grip the Acting Prince's neck and lift him off the ground.

Meng Jing's expression shifted. Even he wasn't confident in saving the Acting Prince's life under these circumstances. “Do not doom yourself,” he warned. “If you kill him, there will be no turning back.”

“No!” Meng Chan cried out, quickly addressing Zu An. “He brought such misery upon the Qin and Murong families, and he schemed against you so viciously. If you simply kill him like this, wouldn't that be letting him off too easily?” Although she had never met Zu An before, from their brief interaction, she immediately realized just how wildly inaccurate all the intelligence she had previously received about him was. He was practically the most audacious man in the world; was there anything he wouldn't dare to do? The Old Ancestor's attempt to intimidate him would not only fail to deter him but would likely provoke him into an immediate rampage.

Hearing her words, Zu An's hand, which had been about to exert force, paused. He nodded. “You make a fair point,” he conceded. “Dying like this would indeed be too easy for him.” With that, he lifted his leg and delivered a swift kick. With a sickening crunch, the Acting Prince's leg bones were utterly pulverized, beyond any hope of recovery. Next, he extended a finger and directly shattered the Acting Prince's dantian and qi sea, utterly crippling him.

“Now you can experience the same suffering the Qin family endured.”

“Ah… ah…”

Pig-like squeals erupted as the Acting Prince's once-decent face twisted into an unrecognizable grimace. “Meng Chan, you venomous woman!” he shrieked. “Torturing me like this through someone else's hands! Did you already have a lover, just wishing me dead?!” He unleashed a torrent of obscene insults, words too vile to commit to paper. At this moment, the Acting Prince was consumed by an intense hatred. Daring not to curse Zu An, he unleashed all his fury upon Meng Chan instead.

Meng Chan's delicate face turned pale. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. How could the true reasons be spoken in front of a devil like Zu An?

“Stop spewing garbage,” Zu An said, slapping the Acting Prince. “She only said that to save your life; quite a clever tactic, actually.” It just so happened to align with his own intentions; killing the prince outright would indeed have been too lenient.

The Acting Prince froze, looking at his wife. For a moment, he was overcome with both vexation and shame. Meng Chan, however, didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, she looked at the fiend, and a sudden sense of kinship arose in her heart. *How wonderful it would have been if we had met earlier,* she thought.

“You're courting death!” Meng Jing was genuinely enraged this time. This young man had treated him as if he were nothing from start to finish. A specialized domain unfurled around them, and the surrounding air seemed to grow thick and viscous. “You brat,” he sneered, “you do possess some skill, and your attack speed is impressive. However, before this old man, none of your advantages will be of any use.”

Meng Chan's beautiful face turned ashen. She felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on her, and she could no longer support herself, collapsing directly onto the ground. Even then, she was drenched in a cold sweat, merely gritting her teeth and struggling to endure. The Acting Prince fared even worse; he had already collapsed face down onto the ground, his bones audibly creaking, and his screams intensified. Zu An, however, stood in the center, his expression utterly calm.

“Feigning composure,” Meng Jing sneered. “This is my unique domain. Every movement you make within this area will be subjected to ten times the normal gravity. Your speed, qi circulation, and attack power will all be reduced to merely one-tenth of their usual strength. How will you possibly fight me then?”

In a clash between masters, victory hinges on the slimmest margin. Top-tier experts have honed their skills and movements to instinct, mastering every nuance to the extreme. Such a drastic change in gravity profoundly impacts masters, as everything deviates from their usual rhythm. In a confrontation between opponents of the same caliber, this subtle difference would be enough to cost him his life hundreds of times over.

“Is that so?” Zu An raised a hand, and a wisp of golden sword qi shot forth. It moved with such blinding speed that there was no time to react; it directly pierced through the opponent's throat.

“What?!” Meng Chan's beautiful eyes widened dramatically. The shock of her father being instantly killed in one encounter had been immense, but even the subsequent shock of all her uncles dying at Zu An's hands did not compare to the scene before her now. One of the Eight Dukes of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the protector of the Meng family, a top-tier powerhouse of the world—had he just died just like that?