Chapter 129: The Fifth Noble Family

Rock Island is merely a thousand miles away from the Ocean-Covering Palace. Due to the enlightened policies of King Yu, the Tan Sea, much like the Er Sea, does not restrict its airspace. However, it is truly rare to see anyone daring enough to engage in a pursuit and magical duel in the night sky above Rock Island.

What was even more infuriating was that after Tianjizi’s stern shout, the six individuals did not cease their actions; instead, they flew straight toward Rock Island.

"How outrageous!" Tianjizi flicked his horsetail whisk and soared into the air. A brilliant golden light erupted from behind his Taoist robes, and a massive Taiji Bagua diagram manifested in response to the overwhelming sword energy and piercing whistles of the air. The black and white light of the Yin-Yang poles flickered, the two fish-eye points shone with particular intensity, and the Bagua symbols shimmered with golden radiance. Guided by the finger seals in Tianjizi’s hands, the diagram shifted before him, illuminating his majestic and ethereal features, making him appear like an immortal.

"Wuji Heaven One Lock!" Tianjizi’s low, resonant voice rumbled through the night sky. Golden light erupted from the two Yin-Yang fish eyes within the Taiji Bagua diagram. The massive formation surged, aiming its Bagua seals at the six intruders. A deluge of golden light, filled with profound, swirling symbols, rushed forward and swallowed the six of them in an instant.

Tianjizi flicked his whisk again, and the black and white Yin-Yang fish dove into the formation. Wherever they passed, the six individuals were wrapped in golden Bagua seals, rendering them completely immobile.

"You dare violate my immortal island! Get down here!" Tianjizi cast another spell and pointed his whisk. The Yin-Yang fish flew back at high speed, dragging the six individuals like puppets on golden strings. No matter how they struggled, they could not break free. With a flicker of his figure, Tianjizi pulled them down from the clouds, slamming them hard into the sea and creating massive waves. Their soaring magical treasures and flying swords lost control, falling like meteors to various parts of the island.

The display of Taoist arts left Lin Feng and Chen Yuxi in awe, and the countless people on the artifact-refining grounds were struck dumb. Tianjizi stood unmoved, his body radiating auspicious energy. With a light flick of his whisk, he pulled the six people back out of the sea.

"Stinking Taoist! Let me go, you wretch!" The woman was drenched, crystalline water droplets scattering from her white feathered cloak. Beneath her disheveled hair, her face was an angry oval, and her curves were even more alluringly visible through her soaked robes.

"Bull-nosed old priest! You have a death wish, daring to lay a hand on our Xuanji Pavilion!" Among the four men dressed in identical attire, one burly, thick-necked fellow shouted back, refusing to be outdone.

"Xuanji Pavilion! These people are from the Xuanji Pavilion?" Lin Feng couldn't help but take a closer look. On the dark robes of the four men, seven stars were embroidered with crystalline thread in the shape of a dipper. The seven stars on the clothes of the man who spoke just now were golden, while the others were white.

"The Big Dipper Xuanji! So that is it!" Lin Feng looked up at the night sky. In the northern heavens, the bright Big Dipper stood out above all other stars, just as the Xuanji Pavilion’s status was peerless in the overseas cultivation world.

Recalling that he was still a guest advisor of the Xuanji Pavilion, he smiled slightly and watched the situation unfold. Chen Yuxi followed his gaze upward, her heart stirred: "The Seven Stars of Xuanji. We shall see today whether the Xuanji Pavilion or the Ocean-Covering Palace is more formidable."

"Shut your mouth, you madman!" With a flick of the whisk, a patch of red welled up on the leader's cheek, swelling rapidly as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

At this, everyone fell silent.

"I don't care which sect or faction you belong to; get out of the Tan Sea immediately, or suffer the consequences!" The sternness on Tianjizi’s thin, withered face made him look like an entirely different person from the immortal figure he had been moments before.

"Daoist, please calm your anger. My sister and I have never provoked the Xuanji Pavilion. We were pursued all the way here from Magnet Island by these four for no reason at all. I implore you, for the sake of our fellow cultivators, to uphold justice for us!"

The young man in silk remained calm in the face of danger. He tossed his hair back from his face, his tone sincere and neither servile nor overbearing.

"And who might you two be?" Tianjizi’s eyes flashed as he asked.

"This junior is Diwu Kang, and this is my sister, Diwu Ying. Our grandfather is Diwu Yang of Puyang Island. Have you heard of him, Daoist?"

*Diwu?* It was a rare surname, but upon hearing it, any cultivator with basic knowledge would immediately think of "Diwu Yang." Indeed, among the three great clans of the world, Diwu Yang, head of the Diwu family—known for "gathering a hundred rivers"—loved collecting all types of Taoist arts. From the mysterious arts of the Qi Men Dun Jia and the Five Elements to talisman and puppet techniques, there was nothing he did not master.

"You are the grandchildren of Diwu Yang? I remember now. It seems there were two such children back then. Diwu Yang... it has been over ten years since we last met..." Tianjizi’s gaze grew distant, then he suddenly snorted coldly and turned to the four men: "Why were you hunting these two? Today, I shall uphold justice for them!"

The four men were stubborn; they lifted their chins and remained silent, their faces showing disdain.

"You four, did you accept an assassination mission from the Xuanji Pavilion? What was the reward? High-grade spirit stones?" Lin Feng smiled slightly. "If so, the Xuanji Pavilion truly lacks a sense of right and wrong, accepting any task that comes their way. Tell me, everyone, is it a demonic sect or a righteous one?"

"How do you know!" Two of them gasped, their eyes widening as they stared at Lin Feng.

Diwu Ying sneered, mocking: "The Xuanji Pavilion is indeed a group of cowardly rats who cannot show their faces. No wonder there is no place for you among the righteous sects of the world. I imagine even the Ten Thousand Demon Heaven would be ashamed to associate with you! Neither righteous nor demonic—you are simply evil, and everyone has the right to kill you!"

"Witch! Stop your arrogance! Even if we fail, others will take the contract! In the end, you will die even more miserably! Ugh..." The leader of the four suddenly widened his eyes, and with a *thud*, blood poured from his seven orifices, and he slumped to the ground.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!* The other three followed, collapsing dead one after another, their faces covered in the same blood, catching everyone off guard.

"Dead? I hadn't even finished the interrogation..." Tianjizi waved his hand to undo the golden bonds on the Diwu siblings and leaned down to examine them.

Chen Yuxi took out a cloak and draped it over Diwu Ying’s shoulders. No one noticed how grim Lin Feng’s expression had become.

*Was Le Zhengqing’s invitation for me to join the Xuanji Pavilion an intentional plot to drag me into this? These people are clearly not benevolent, and their missions involve assassinating descendants of the Diwu family. Twice now, it has been assassination... assassination...* A mark deeply buried in his memory suddenly surfaced. He leaped forward and tore open the robe of one of the men. On the inner arm near the armpit, a white star was clearly tattooed.

"Not a needle," he whispered to himself, barely audible. He tore open the robes of the other three in the same spot, finding the same mark. He caught a glimpse of something and stood up slowly.

"What did you see?" Chen Yuxi’s eyes flickered, and she spoke through telepathy.

The others went over to check and saw the tattoo.

"It is not certain yet, but the Xuanji Pavilion is hiding a great secret," Lin Feng replied.

"Their hearts were shattered by the power of their own dantian energy. They must have taken 'Meridian-Unblocking Pills' beforehand so that their spiritual power could reach their hearts directly," Tianjizi stroked his beard, puzzled. "Why would the Xuanji Pavilion send these trash to hunt them?"

"Because you are meant to die!" Suddenly, Diwu Ying’s figure vanished strangely, and in the next moment, a streak of black light surged up, striking directly at Tianjizi’s unguarded back!

*Boom!* Tianjizi felt a cold, biting wind rise behind him. Something sharp pierced his skin, aiming straight for his heart. He roared, his Nascent Soul energy condensing rapidly. The Taiji Bagua diagram reappeared, the pure Yang power of Taoism swirling to block this heaven-shaking blow. Although the diagram did not emit sword energy, it possessed immense defensive power. Coupled with the protection of Tianjizi's mid-grade Taoist robe, Diwu Ying’s meticulously planned attack failed.

As Diwu Ying launched her sneak attack, the silk-clad Diwu Kang simultaneously attacked Chen Yuxi. Silver light rings, hot as fire, shot from his sleeves in quick succession. *Chi! Chi! Chi!* The six rings struck Chen Yuxi’s chest one after another, unstoppable. The two were within three feet of each other, leaving no time to dodge.

*Rumble!* The deafening sound of the explosion and the blinding fire filled Lin Feng’s mind. His eyes widened, a surge of heat rushing to his head. His eyes burned with a ferocious intensity, his joints cracked, and his voice roared like thunder: "Very well! Cruel and cunning! Truth hidden in falsehood! No matter who you are, you are dead today! You will definitely die!"