Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 226 - Southern Dipper Covert Martial Inheritance

With its high edges and deep center, the terrain resembled a basin. A long, narrow lake had formed within the canyon.

Even from afar, Cassius could see the lush green grass and dense trees by the lake. He stood still for a few minutes, allowing his airways, burning from the poisonous mist, to recover. Gradually, Cassius adjusted himself back to peak condition.

The bright blueness of the sky appeared as if it had been thoroughly wiped clean by a damp cloth. White clouds drifted back and forth with the wind, partially blocking the hot sun. Bright light poured over the dense forest of the Loka Mountains.

Cassius took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of grass and trees. He reopened his eyes, his gaze sharp and clear like obsidian.

The next second, he moved toward the canyon, about a hundred meters ahead. After walking for no more than ten meters, dull running sounds came from the dense forest on the left. He turned and saw several large apes.

Standing taller than a person, their bodies were all muscle and covered in fiery red hair. Their muscular arms were outlandishly large, and their white fangs, about the size of a human’s pinky finger, were especially prominent.

These were clearly mutant apes. One of them was heavily wounded, likely from fighting with its companions. The dozen or so scars on its body made it look all the more savage.

When the largest scarred ape noticed Cassius watching, it bared its sharp canine teeth in a grin.

Cassius stood motionless, his clothes flapping as the Golem Covert Martial Arts life magnetic field rippled outward in waves.

This did not deter the red-haired apes; on the contrary, it provoked their ferocity. All three apes let out a low growl, their eyes suddenly turning blood-red. The scarred leader took a few steps toward Cassius but stopped in its tracks and retreated as if it had remembered something.

Cassius tapped his right toe into the muddy ground, flicking up a stone the size of a marble. He grabbed it and flung it through the air like a black whip, his arm a blur.

With a loud crack, the stone smacked the scarred ape's chest, tearing skin and drawing blood. Enraged, the ape jumped around wildly, baring its teeth, and swinging its thick arms everywhere. But it dared not charge at Cassius to seek revenge.

Very tough muscles, at least three times the density of a normal man’s, Cassius thought as his eyes flickered, analyzing the result of his random test. The stone he threw wasn’t something an ordinary person could withstand; a normal human’s body would have been pierced through. The power and impact were practically equivalent to that of a bullet. Yet the red-furred ape only suffered a superficial wound.

Cassius glanced at the furious apes, then at the canyon less than a hundred meters ahead, and soon came to a realization.

Ignoring the screeching, he walked straight toward Death Canyon. About halfway there, he heard something cutting through the air behind him. Cassius turned and tapped his right hand lightly, using the Azure Blood Ripple Finger Gun to shatter the incoming stone into pieces.

He bent his legs and pushed off, launching himself toward the canyon. Ten seconds later, Cassius was inside Death Canyon. Thanks to the rock walls on both sides, the inside was noticeably darker and cooler.

A few hundred meters ahead, a narrow, small lake stretched out. The shores were lush with vines and dense grass, brimming with vitality. As he came closer, he could see a few white birds walking by the lake, their long claws stirring the clear water when it lapped up. The single ray of sunlight scattered into fish-scale patterns on the water’s surface. A cool breeze blew through the canyon, carrying a faint dampness with it, and lifting the hem of Cassius’s black cloak slightly.

How could a place like this be called Death Canyon?

The name really didn’t quite fit. He continued walking forward, and after about half a kilometer, he stopped and looked around him. The two sides of the lake suddenly looked completely different.

On one side, there was lush grass, dense trees, swaying water plants, and circling white birds. The other side was lifeless, with gray, dull, withered grass on the ground, and the occasional rubble-like stones. The trees were twisted and gnarled, their trunks leaning in one direction, the bark on there dried and wrinkled as if they had been scorched by fire. The air swirled, carrying an inexplicable stench.

Cassius frowned and traversed deeper into the canyon. Another half a kilometer later, he spotted a small wooden cabin in the middle of the gray wasteland.

The cabin was near the lake where its reflection was cast in the water. Cassius slowed down as he walked along the lake’s edge, his steps becoming more cautious. Finally, when he was less than five meters from the cabin, he stopped and gazed at the lake.

The lake water was green and clear, rippling in the sunlight. About thirty meters from the shore, there was a small island where a figure about the size of a house sat.

Cassius's sharp eyes easily saw the figure thirty meters away, as if they were right in front of him. It was a moss-covered island with a small tree growing from the cracks in the rocks, about as thick as a wrist. Next to the small tree, sitting on a round boulder the size of half a person, was an elderly man with his eyes closed.

The man wore a gray linen robe, his long white beard braided like a rope hanging from his chin. The old man remained completely still; not even his breathing seemed to stir.

"Feng Liusi?" Cassius narrowed his eyes as he carefully watched the man. He didn't sense an aura coming from him at all like he really was just an ordinary old man.

Suddenly, the wooden door of the nearby cabin creaked open. A young girl in a white dress stepped out, her dark green hair framing her delicate face.

"Grandpa, I’ve finished cleaning the house. I’ve also put the medicine for suppressing your illness inside. Wait—" The girl stopped mid-sentence, her bright eyes catching sight of Cassius standing in front of the cabin.

The items in her hands clattered to the ground. She instinctively wanted to say something but quickly slapped both hands over her mouth. Seeing Cassius staring at her, the girl jabbed a finger at him and hissed anxiously, "Leave! Get away from Death Canyon!"

"What?" Cassius was slightly confused.

He felt a chill shoot down his spine. Even without facing the island, Cassius could feel a pair of manic eyes filled with bloodlust, cruelty, and sadistic glee boring into his back. It was like the feeling you get when you’re walking alone through a dark forest at night, only for a pair of blood-red eyes to suddenly light up in front of you.

"We're done for." The green-haired girl’s expression grew increasingly panicked. She grabbed Cassius's hand, her voice trembling. "Run! My grandfather has Qi deviated! He’s going to kill you!" She shoved Cassius. Her hands felt soft. "I can hold him off for a minute or two, but you need to run as fast as you can out of Death Canyon!"

Listening to the girl's kind voice, Cassius turned his head toward the lake. There, an old figure had already risen to his feet.

Even though there was no wind, the gray-white robe fluttered, and the air seemed to swell. Feng Liusi locked his gaze on Cassius from tens of meters away, his pupils glowing red. Veins stretched out from the corners of his eyes to his temples like spiderwebs. At the same time, a current carrying an inexplicable aura spread in all directions, silencing everything in its path. The calm surface of the lake formed radial "巜" shaped ripples. A bird circling in the sky was startled and flapped its wings.

As the girl urged him to leave, voice anxious, Cassius's eyes shifted and locked onto Feng Liusi's blood-red pupils.

Everything between them instantly fell into complete silence. The birdsong, the wind, the rolling pebbles, and voices were all drowned out. Even the background seemed to be constantly blurring, like a gradually fading filter. The only thing that remained were the two's prescences, the nearly forty-meter distance between them seemingly vanishing.

Suddenly, Cassius broke into a smile. His heart couldn't help but thunder excitedly, and the sound of flowing water echoing through his body. His eyes gradually turned red.

With a sharp smack, he clasped his fists to his chest in respect. "Cassius of the Wind Elephant Sect, here to learn martial arts from the Blood Fist, Senior Feng Liusi. I humbly request your guidance."

The next second, Cassius stomped both feet on the ground and shot forward like an arrow, rushing straight toward the island in the middle of the lake.

The girl's legs went numb, and her expression turned somewhat bleak. Her name was Neve, and she was the twenty-year-old granddaughter of the Blood Fist, Feng Liusi. Neve had come to Death Canyon today to deliver a special medicine designed to suppress excitement, rage, and bloodlust to her grandfather.

Indeed, Feng Liusi had not retreated into seclusion in Death Canyon due to some internal injury, contrary to what the outside world was saying. It was because in his later years, he had Qi deviated during his martial arts practice, and his killing intent had surged uncontrollably. At times, he would go berserk with his fist techniques, indiscriminately attacking any living beings within his range. Furthermore, the aura he emitted was highly influential.

To avoid affecting the Red Falcon Fist Sect and to focus on calming this state, Feng Liusi had abruptly sealed him and his fists away from the world.

In his demonic state, he was highly aggressive, recognizing only his son and granddaughter. Anyone else targeted by Feng Liusi would be regarded as a threat to be eliminated.

Two years ago, completely clueless of the situation, Feng Liusi's only friend visited him. Feng Liusi, in a state of madness, severely injured him, forcing him to flee the canyon in disgrace. It was worth noting that this friend, though aged and with declining vitality, was still a seasoned martial artist and yet, he was defeated in just ten moves. Had he not escaped quickly, he might have met an unjust death here.

Naturally, Neve knew all this, hence her multiple pleas for Cassius to flee earlier. But it was too late now.

She watched Cassius's figure dart away at breakneck speed, silently mourning him in her heart. It's such a shame to have a handsome young man die like this...

Neve had also heard Cassius introduce himself earlier.

Though both came from the world of Covert Martial Arts, Cassius was far too young and reckless. Moreover, he had a slender, delicate physique and a fine face, making Neve fear that a single punch from her grandfather might turn him into pulp.

Feng Liusi was notorious for his head-crushing strikes, and Neve fully expected an extremely bloody scene to unfold. She didn't think much else would happen. If any young man they met by chance turned out to be a martial artist, then the world of Covert Martial Arts would truly lose its value.

From the lakeshore, looking toward the water, a black streak could be seen speeding toward the island. Meanwhile, the old man slowly spread his arms wide. In a flash, the black streak finally reached the island.

A loud explosion resounded like a bomb going off. The shockwave traveled across the lake, forming rapid concentric ripples that spread outward. The gust of air slapped Neve in the face, blowing her tea-green ponytail loose.

Out of the corner of her eye, she seemed to see a small figure flying backward, bouncing along the rocky ground like a skipping stone.

When she turned, she saw Cassius flip back onto his feet. His upper body clothes had been torn to shreds in an instant, revealing his slightly muscular torso underneath. Cassius shook his numb hands and rolled his neck.

He’s fine?! Neve's eyes widened in shock. She looked further ahead, her eyes widening even more.

Her grandfather was no longer on the island; he had appeared tens of meters away on the opposite shore. Between the island and the shore, a narrow, stretched water line marked the path.

In other words, the punch between them had ended in a draw?! The only ones who could withstand a full-force punch from a combat artist were combart artists themselves.

Could it be that this boy, who looked even younger than her, was...

A black shadow darted past her.

Cassius, as if gliding across the water, rapidly approached Feng Liusi on the opposite shore. His eyes had turned bloodthirsty and crimson again, and he shouted, "Why aren't you using your Red Falcon Fist?! Feng Liusi, come at me with all you've got!"

The very next second, the two, separated by nearly a hundred meters, collided. Cassius's hands crashed together, exploding like a blooming lotus.

His fists and Feng Liusi's strikes collided rapidly, producing sounds like firecrackers going off. In the blurry shadows of fists like dark clouds, Cassius charged forward again. His body twisted to the side as he launched a fierce punch aimed at Feng Liusi's shoulder. Feng Liusi flicked his left arm, deflecting the blow while simultaneously turning it into a hand blade, cutting diagonally toward Cassius's neck. His movements were smooth, seasoned, and utterly flawless.

Cassius dodged before delivering a spinning kick at Feng Liusi's abdomen. Feng Liusi pressed down with both hands but was still pushed back by Cassius’s strange force, sliding back two meters. He was at a slight disadvantage this round.

Cassius took advantage of the momentum, swinging his improved Wind Elephant Fist.

Fists, hand blades, elbows, and knees fiercely targeted Feng Liusi's vital points, and thanks to his robust physique, Cassius gradually gained the upper hand.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he swiftly closed in. A long, piercing sound echoed through the air—that was the sound of the Owl Fist tearing through the atmosphere. His fist shot toward Feng Liusi's chest. "Use your moves! Where is your Red Falcon Fist now? Are you so old that you can’t even perform your fist techniques anymore?"

Cassius withdrew his right hand. There was a streak of fresh blood painted across it; he had managed to injure Feng Liusi with his rapid straight punch.

Two long marks appeared on the ground where Feng Liusi’s shoes had scraped the earth.

Feng Liusi glanced down at the wound on his chest and then back up. His once dull eyes seemed to regain some clarity. He muttered, "It's been so long since someone has managed to hurt me; the last time was seven years ago. Impressive." @@novelbin@@

Feng Liusi’s previously lifeless expression became more animated, like a puppet transforming into a living person. He looked at Cassius, who had paused his attack.

"Did you break my seal, kid?"

"Your seal?" Cassius immediately realized why Blood Fist Feng Liusi's movements had seemed so stiff and clumsy earlier.

"You want to see the Red Falcon Fist? Fine." A sinister, old smile crept across Feng Liusi's face. "Unfortunately for you, I no longer use the Red Falcon Fist; I now practice a different fist technique."

"You are?"

"Yes." Feng Liusi spread his legs, his entire body adopting a posture like a praying mantis ready to strike. At the same time, his arms spread out like the wings of a bird of prey, and his hands took on the shape of eagle claws.

"Southern Dipper Covert Martial Inheritance, the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist!