In Lingjiu Palace, Jilin lived a leisurely life every single day. Inseparable from Wang Yuyan, the two of them were deeply in love and utterly sweet.
After Jilin's long-term efforts, Wang Yuyan now held only Jilin in her heart.
As for who Murong Fu was? Who knew? Who cared?
Beyond that, he also received martial arts instruction from Li Qiushui and Tianshan Tonglao. By now, Jilin's martial arts had reached perfection, and he had integrated all the profound martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect into himself.
One could say he was unrivaled in the world, yet the system's main quest still provided no feedback.
Therefore, Jilin decided to hold a martial arts tournament in the name of the Xiaoyao Sect, inviting people from across the pugilistic world to come and contend for the title of "Number One in the World."
Meanwhile, having been away from home for a long time, Wang Yuyan felt a deep longing for her homeland and hoped to return to Mantu Manor to visit her mother.
Upon learning of this, Jilin decided to accompany Wang Yuyan back. Thus, taking Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju with them, they embarked on the journey home.
Jilin brought Wang Yuyan back to Mantu Manor. As soon as they stepped through the gates, they saw Madam Wang standing at the entrance with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"Mother!" Wang Yuyan called out.
"Hmm." Madam Wang nodded, her gaze falling upon Jilin as she asked, "Why have you come back?"
"We wanted to come back and see you," Jilin said.
"Oh? We?" Hearing this, Madam Wang shifted her gaze away from Jilin, turned to look at her own daughter Wang Yuyan, and then glanced back at Jilin. A flash of displeasure quickly crossed her eyes.
She immediately continued, "Didn't I tell you long ago not to get too close to men? There isn't a single good man in this world." With that, she flicked her sleeve and walked away.
At her mother's words, Wang Yuyan's face instantly flushed crimson. She lowered her head even deeper, unable to utter a single word.
Seeing this, Jilin hurriedly explained to Madam Wang, "Senior Sister, my feelings for Yan'er are completely genuine. Please you must believe me!" However, Madam Wang completely ignored him, let out a cold snort, and turned away.
Wang Yuyan silently watched her mother's retreating figure, a wave of sadness and loss welling up in her heart.
Jilin gently patted her shoulder and comforted her softly, "Yan'er, don't be sad. Senior Sister is probably just angry for the moment. Once her anger subsides, she will naturally accept us."
Wang Yuyan nodded slightly and murmured, "Thank you, Brother Lun. If you weren't by my side, I wouldn't know what to do."
Jilin smiled and replied, "Think nothing of it, Yan'er. As long as I can protect you and keep you happy, anything I do is worth it."
Days passed by, and Jilin had stayed at Mantu Manor for a long time.
Madam Wang had witnessed all of Jilin's care and attentiveness toward Wang Yuyan. In the end, Madam Wang gave her approval for Wang Yuyan and Jilin to be together.
Time dividing line...
Before Wuyazi's grave at Leiguzhan.
Jilin brought Wang Yuyan to Wuyazi's grave and offered flowers.
"Master, your disciple has come to see you," Jilin said softly as he knelt down.
Wang Yuyan knelt down beside him and kowtowed three times. She murmured under her breath, "Grandfather, Yan'er has come to see you."
"Get up." Jilin helped Wang Yuyan to her feet and said, "Master was brilliant and mighty all his life, yet he was harmed by Ding Chunqiu. It is truly lamentable."
Wang Yuyan nodded and said, "Indeed, Ding Chunqiu is a truly despicable villain."
Looking at Wuyazi's gravestone, Jilin secretly vowed that he must kill Ding Chunqiu before leaving.
At that moment, Su Xinghe walked over and said, "Greetings, Leader and Senior Brother."
Jilin nodded and asked, "Junior Brother, have you had any news of Ding Chunqiu recently?"
Su Xinghe shook his head in response.
Jilin frowned slightly. "Even though we don't know where he is hiding, he won't be able to escape this time."
Su Xinghe said, "Rest assured, Leader and Senior Brother, I will do my utmost to assist you."
Jilin said, "Good. Junior Brother, immediately send people to recall all surviving disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect. At the same time, issue invitations in the name of the Xiaoyao Sect to heroes across the realm, inviting them to attend the martial arts tournament and contend for the title of Number One in the World."
Su Xinghe said, "As you command!"
The emergence of the Xiaoyao Sect was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layer upon layer of ripples and shattering the long-standing tranquility of the pugilistic world.
Furthermore, Jilin's stunning performances at Xingzi Forest and Juzhang Manor filled the people of the jianghu with awe and curiosity toward both him and the Xiaoyao Sect behind him.
As time passed, heroes from all over the realm embarked on the journey to Leiguzhan. Renowned sects such as Dali, Shaolin Temple, Xingsu Sect, and the Beggar Gang all sent their own top experts.
Some of these people possessed extraordinary skills, while others were famous far and wide. Their arrival turned the previously desolate Leiguzhan into a bustling, lively place.
The jianghu had always been a place full of strife. Sects fought covertly and overtly, and heroes vied with one another, all for that supreme title of "Number One in the World."
This was the martial arts tournament—a stage to make friends through martial arts and determine the strongest. Here, life and death were up to fate, and wealth was up to heaven; only the true strong could have the last laugh.
However, this martial arts tournament was not merely a simple athletic competition; it was also the ultimate venue for resolving jianghu grievances.
Many people came with hatred in their hearts, hoping to use this opportunity to wash away past humiliation or settle old scores.
At this moment, Jilin was standing quietly in the mountain corridor, listening to the reports of his subordinates.
"Leader, Ding Chunqiu has already reached the foot of the mountain."
Hearing this, Jilin narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of an imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his mouth. With a flash of his figure, deploying his peerless lightness skill, he leaped out like a flash of lightning and landed steadily on the sheer cliff face.
Following that, he sped down the steep rock face, reaching the base of the mountain in the blink of an eye.
Before even seeing Ding Chunqiu himself, an extremely arrogant voice echoed from afar: "Hahahaha... What utter rubbish of a Xiaoyao Sect? Even that old dog Wuyazi is gone. What more can any of you do to me?"
"Today, I, Old Freak Ding, will surely trample all you so-called heroes beneath my feet."
Watching Ding Chunqiu spouting such wild nonsense, Jilin wore a look of disdain and sneered, "Ding Chunqiu, today is your day of death!" Without further ado, Jilin directly channeled his full internal energy and unleashed the Six Meridian Divine Sword.
Six streaks of sword qi shot forth, instantly piercing the bodies of the men carrying Ding Chunqiu's sedan chair. They died on the spot before they could even emit a scream.
Arrogant though he was, Ding Chunqiu possessed an extremely acute sense of danger. The moment Jilin made his move, he sensed that something was amiss and rapidly executed his lightness skill to retreat.
At the same time, he waved his hands, unleashing streams of poisonous arts to engage Jilin in a fierce battle.
Jilin remained completely unfazed. His figure flickered as he evaded Ding Chunqiu's attacks, his sword techniques growing increasingly fierce, with every single strike aimed straight at fatal points.
Although Ding Chunqiu's martial arts were bizarre, facing such a powerful offensive from Jilin, he gradually began to buckle under the pressure.
Just then, seizing the opportunity, Jilin viciously struck with a palm, driving a Life-Death talisman into Ding Chunqiu's body. Ding Chunqiu's complexion changed drastically as he collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.
Seeing this, Jilin smiled coldly and said, "Ding Chunqiu, you have committed countless evils, and today you have finally fallen into my hands! Men, take him away and lock him up!"
Hearing this, the surrounding members of the Xiaoyao Sect stepped forward, bound Ding Chunqiu tightly, and dragged him away to imprisonment. From then on, the Xingsu Sect would cease to exist in the jianghu.
Once Ding Chunqiu was dealt with, the true martial arts tournament officially commenced. Wanted to be Number One in the World? Then step onto the stage and fight one-on-one! The winner stays, the loser steps down, repeating in a cycle until the ultimate victor was decided.
Relying on his unfathomable martial arts and internal energy, Jilin carved his way through all opponents to become the undisputed Number One in the World.
Especially the final showdown between Jilin and Qiao Feng, which could only be described as earth-shattering and ghost-wailing, resulting in Qiao Feng suffering a narrow defeat by a single move.
Just as Jilin defeated Qiao Feng to become the Number One in the World, the system's voice resounded in his mind: "The host has completed the quest and may leave this world at any time."
After days of grueling battles, the martial arts tournament finally came to an end, and the jianghu figures dispersed in all directions. In a mountain pavilion on Leiguzhan, Jilin and a group of close friends sat gathered together.
Jilin and Qiao Feng raised their cups to one another repeatedly, drinking as if their capacity knew no bounds, until deep into the night when only Qiao Feng and Jilin remained in the mountain pavilion.
Jilin recounted his recent experiences to Qiao Feng, and Qiao Feng likewise spoke of his own. It turned out that after a search by Qiao Feng and his father, they had finally tracked down Murong Bo, which led to a righteous two-on-one group beating.
Ultimately, Murong Bo was no match and died, and Qiao Feng and his father finally avenged their deep grievances.
Following that, Jilin asked Qiao Feng for the Eighteen Palms of Subduing Dragons and the Dog-Beating Staff Technique, stating that if Qiao Feng needed anything, he should feel free to speak. Qiao Feng asked for nothing in return and handed the two martial arts manuals over to Jilin, strictly ordering Jilin to swear an oath that he would never privately transmit them to anyone else.
Jilin stated that he merely wished to collect jianghu martial arts. After completing his oath, the two continued to raise their cups and drink freely.
Through this martial arts tournament, the Xiaoyao Sect officially became the preeminent major sect in the pugilistic world, renowned and striking fear across the jianghu.
After seeing off all his friends, Jilin brought Ding Chunqiu to Wuyazi's grave. Following days of torture, not a single patch of skin on Ding Chunqiu's body was intact.
Watching Ding Chunqiu kneel on the ground and beg unceasingly for mercy, Jilin raised his blade and swiftly beheaded him.
He then tossed the corpse aside, sat down by the grave on his own, and spoke some heartfelt words...
After disposing of the body, Jilin placed the jade statue of the Fairy Sister—which he had kept in the System Space—beside Wuyazi's grave, and burned the portrait he had painted right there in front of the tomb as well.
After kowtowing a few times to Wuyazi, Jilin turned and left.
Finally, before departing, Jilin sought out Wang Yuyan. The two sat embraced, enjoying a brief moment of warmth. Immediately afterward, he began communicating with the system...
Then the system carried Jilin away, transforming into a streak of light that vanished.
With Jilin's departure, the entire world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils seemed as though the pause button had been pressed, freezing everything at the exact moment he left.
Whether people or objects, all remained in their original states, and time ceased to flow there.
Jilin's martial arts were now peerless in the world, unmatched by anyone. Furthermore, the numerous martial arts manuals and miscellaneous books stored in the System Space were of immeasurable value.
These precious classics were enough to grant any sect a profound foundation to be passed down for generations without decline.
With that, Jilin completely bade farewell to the world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, leaving behind only a legendary tale and a frozen jianghu.
Perhaps someday in the future, when someone stepped into this world once more, they would discover that the footprints of a supreme master had once lingered here...