Volume 1, Chapter 42: Mister, Would You Like to Open a Membership Card?

This scene made the four of them—who had just felt somewhat disheartened—light up with hope!

Liu Dongyue was not truly invincible. Their successive strikes of the Monument-Splitting Palm earlier had already injured him; he had simply been putting on a brave face. Now, he was finally reaching his limit, wasn't he?

The four of them saw hope.

"Junior brothers, let's attack together! Today, the Autumn Funeral Saber belongs to our Yellow River Sect!"

Wan Qiuhren cried out in pleasant surprise at that moment.

Even the elders of the Yellow River Sect grew tense, their breathing becoming heavy.

There was hope!

Only Li Hanzhou sat quietly, showing not the slightest trace of anxiety.

The battle grew increasingly fierce. Although Liu Dongyue fought one against four without falling behind, he wasn't gaining any upper hand either; the two sides were locked in an even match.

Bang, bang, bang!

The sounds of collision echoed incessantly.

The spectators grew more and more tense, many even forgetting to breathe.

Among those present, there was no lack of experts who had surpassed the Transcendence Realm, yet they still watched with trembling hearts.

They were terrified that Liu Dongyue would be defeated by the disciples of the Yellow River Sect, and that the Yellow River Sect would take the Autumn Funeral Saber away, leaving them with no chance at all.

By this time, some of the sects were already regretting signing up too late.

Their matches were scheduled many days later; by the time their turn came, the Autumn Funeral Saber might already be gone.

This battle lasted for a full half-hour.

The four disciples of the Yellow River Sect were already breathing heavily, and the true qi within their bodies was nearly exhausted.

Wan Qiuhren was panting heavily, sweat covering his forehead as he stared fixedly at Liu Dongyue. He had never felt a martial arts duel to be so exhausting.

The four of them had teamed up against a single Liu Dongyue, yet they still hadn't managed to take him down.

Just when he felt Liu Dongyue was about to reach his limit, Liu Dongyue would somehow find the strength to stand back up again.

He was like an undying cockroach.

"Senior brother, I can't hold on much longer," one of the Yellow River Sect disciples couldn't help saying. "My true qi is depleted, and my stamina is failing me. This Liu Dongyue is truly impossible to kill!"

"Senior Brother Wan, I'm reaching my limit too," another disciple chimed in, unable to help himself.

Although the last disciple didn't speak, the bead-sized drops of sweat rolling down his face said it all.

And what about Wan Qiuhren?

His true qi was also down to a bare minimum. How could one Ninth-Rank and three Eighth-Rank martial artists fail to defeat a single Fifth-Rank opponent?

Are you kidding me!

"Liu Dongyue, you're nearly at your limit too, aren't you?" Wan Qiuhren asked with a grin.

Liu Dongyue was also panting heavily opposite him, then replied, "Just about. So what?"

"Then I'll take the Autumn Funeral Saber today!" Hearing Liu Dongyue's confirmation, Wan Qiuhren let out a loud shout. Summoning the last remaining true qi in his body, he took a step forward and launched the Monument-Splitting Palm once again!

Yet this time, the palm strike was different from before; the wind of the strike was no longer as fierce and sharp!

Instead, it was ethereal like drifting clouds, vaguely imbued with a unique and profound charm.

"The fourth layer of the Monument-Splitting Palm: Flowing Clouds!"

An elder of the Yellow River Sect cried out in astonishment.

He had not expected Wan Qiuhren to master the fourth layer of the Monument-Splitting Palm at such a crucial moment!

He truly lived up to being Wan Changhai's grandson!

"Prepare to die!"

This was the trump card Wan Qiuhren had been holding back. Because he had not fully mastered the fourth-layer palm technique and could not properly control his true qi, using it even once would likely drain every last drop of his energy.

Therefore, he had saved it precisely for this moment.

The wind of the palm howled as it struck!

Liu Dongyue raised an eyebrow; this palm strike was indeed vastly different from the previous ones!

Yet upon this arena, as long as there were four opponents on the other side, he, Liu Dongyue, was invincible!

His martial uncle's medicinal pills were simply that overpowering!

Thus, facing this formidable palm strike, Liu Dongyue activated his Golden Light Incantation, allowing the ethereal palm print to slam directly into his protective golden barrier!

Bang!

A heavy thud resounded.

Liu Dongyue's Golden Light Incantation remained utterly unshaken.

"What?!"

Wan Qiuhren was utterly shocked, never expecting Liu Dongyue to block it.

Realizing the time was right and growing tired of playing with the Yellow River Sect members, Liu Dongyue threw a single punch. The ferocious and violent kinetic force directly blasted Wan Qiuhren flying a dozen meters backward, sending him tumbling off the stage.

"Senior brother!"

Several Yellow River Sect disciples cried out in alarm.

Upon seeing this, the elder of the Yellow River Sect instinctively covered his face in regret.

So close!

They had been just that close to obtaining the Autumn Funeral Saber.

"You flatter me."

Liu Dongyue cupped his fists in a salute to the disciples of the Yellow River Sect.

"Phew!"

Seeing that Liu Dongyue had won, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. Although the process had been thrillingly close, at least Liu Dongyue hadn't lost, and the Autumn Funeral Saber hadn't been carried off by the Yellow River Sect.

"Everyone, today's bouts have concluded. Thank you for your presence. Tomorrow features the Wuqian Sect. If you are interested, please arrive at the Longevity Taoist Temple at the same time," Li Hanzhou walked onto the stage and said with a smile to the crowd.

"Our Longevity Taoist Temple guarantees this: whoever can defeat our temple's disciple, Liu Dongyue, will take the Autumn Funeral Saber away directly!" As he spoke, Li Hanzhou extended his palm, and the Autumn Funeral Saber instantly materialized in his grasp.

"Hum!"

The saber flew through the air, piercing straight into a pillar in the plaza.

"Everyone, the saber is right here. Whoever has the ability, take it away!" Li Hanzhou's gaze swept across everyone present.

Sure enough, the moment the Autumn Funeral Saber appeared, everyone's eyes locked onto it unblinkingly!

Such a divine weapon—

Seeing it with their own eyes only stirred their greed even more.

As long as greed took root in people's hearts, Li Hanzhou could manipulate them effortlessly.

Just as everyone was preparing to disperse and leave, a voice rang out.

"Brother Xiayan," Lin Xiaoxian initiated, speaking up first, "would you like to get a membership card for our Longevity Taoist Temple?"

"That's right, that's right, Brother, you should get one too." The other young maidens also shook the arms of their respective 'brothers,' gazing at them with affectionate and captivating eyes.

"What kind of card?"

Everyone paused in confusion. What was that?

"It's an event launched by our Longevity Taoist Temple! As long as you top up ten thousand taels of silver right now, you can get a membership card. Once you have our temple's membership card, you become a valued member of the Longevity Taoist Temple. Afterwards, buying tickets gets you a ten percent discount, and coming to drink tea also gets you a twenty percent discount, deducted directly from the funds on your membership card. Furthermore, it comes with a complimentary session-upgrade feature."

"For example, if Brother Xiayan arrives late tomorrow and can't buy a VIP seat, only being able to get an outer-area seat, it doesn't matter at all! As long as you have a membership card, our Longevity Taoist Temple will immediately upgrade you to the inner area, and even gift you a cup of 'Moon in the Cup.' In the future, whenever the Longevity Taoist Temple launches new events, members will always enjoy the greatest possible discounts." Lin Xiaoxian rattled off the benefits of the Longevity Taoist Temple's membership card in one breath.

Her words left everyone present utterly dumbfounded.

There was such a thing as this?