4. The Power of the Unyielding Grasp

When Xie Wuji awoke, he found Song Zhong and Song Xiao also sitting cross-legged, but both were fast asleep. Song Zhong, in particular, was snoring so loudly that even the table trembled with each rumble, making the teacup atop it teeter dangerously on the edge. Xie Wuji quickly reached out to catch it, but in his haste, he gripped too hard and shattered the cup.

“Damn it, who’s smashing cups?” Song Zhong’s large nose bubble burst as he jolted awake.

Song Xiao yawned, but at the sight of Xie Wuji, he started and cried out, “Good heavens, you’ve already reached the Condensing Core stage!”

Xie Wuji felt invigorated, his body noticeably more robust than before; the previously lean frame now carried some muscle, and he looked healthier, his mind clear and refreshed. Even the scars on his face had vanished.

According to the Song brothers, cultivation was divided into seven tiers, each with ten minor stages: Spirit Gathering, Core Condensation, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Grand Void, Heaven’s Mandate, and Boundless. Xie Wuji had skipped Spirit Gathering entirely, advancing straight to Core Condensation—no wonder the two brothers were so shocked.

Learning that he had advanced so much, Xie Wuji was delighted. At that moment, Song Zhong stretched and rubbed his neck. “Ugh, that was a restless sleep. My neck’s sore. You may have advanced in cultivation, but you lack real combat experience. Let us teach you some moves—after all, our father is the renowned Song Zang!”

Xie Wuji didn’t know who Song Zang was, but he could only smile wryly. He’d been cultivating while they napped—what kind of elders put the younger generation in such a spot? Still, he couldn’t complain, as he owed them a debt of gratitude.

Just then, the sound of hooves interrupted his thoughts. Stepping outside, Xie Wuji was surprised to see a mounted troop approaching. Song Xiao walked forward to meet them, and a burly man with a face full of scars and muscles bulging beneath his skin dismounted. A massive saber with nine interlocking rings hung from his back—an unmistakable sign of trouble.

He addressed Song Xiao, “Village Chief Song, the land rent is due this month. It’s already half a month late.”

Song Xiao could only sigh in resignation. “Second Master Ma, as you know, our harvests have been poor all year. We’re just farmers—if the crops fail, we have nothing. We’re strapped for money, can’t you…”

Once, the Immortal Longevity Sect had been glorious, but now, the Song brothers lamented their inability to even scrape together a few taels of silver.

Second Master Ma’s eyes landed on Song Xiaoyu. “As we agreed last time, if you can’t pay today, we’ll have to take your daughter. My stronghold still lacks a mistress, and I’ve watched your girl grow up. Consider yourself lucky—once I take her, we’ll be in-laws, and I’ll forgo future rents.”

Xie Wuji was outraged. Daylight robbery! Was there no law in this land? He stepped forward to protest, but Uncle Zhong grabbed his sleeve.

“Don’t get involved, Wuji,” he warned. “Second Master Ma is a big deal—he’s the second-in-command at Ma Stronghold, the most notorious bandit den in the region. No one dares cross them.”

“So we’re just going to watch Xiaoyu be dragged into the pit?” Xie Wuji could not accept this.

Uncle Zhong replied, “Ma Stronghold controls sixteen villages around here. Acting rashly might mean the whole village will have to flee again.”

But while they spoke, Second Master Ma had already noticed Xie Wuji. “You’re not from around here, and your clothes are strange. How old are you, still wearing crotchless trousers? Who are you? Speak up!”

“As if I want to wear these!” Xie Wuji retorted. “And anyway, Second Master Ma, as the leader of Ma Stronghold, surely you’re a reasonable man. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘A forced melon is never sweet’? Besides, you’re abducting her in broad daylight!”

That was the last straw. Second Master Ma brandished his saber. “Where did this brat come from, daring to lecture me?!”

Song Xiao hurried to intervene. “Please, spare him, Second Master Ma. He’s my distant nephew and means no harm.”

“Bah! If you can’t pay up today, then I’m taking the girl!” With that, he spurred his horse forward, grabbed Xiaoyu by the collar, and tried to haul her up.

Xie Wuji could hesitate no longer. “Stop!” he roared.

“Mind your own business!” Second Master Ma swung his saber at Xie Wuji. Instinctively, Xie Wuji raised his hands to block. With a metallic clang, the massive blade snapped in half.

Looking down, Xie Wuji saw his hands were unscathed, save for two pale marks. Could his fists now truly deflect blades?

Second Master Ma’s eyes bulged. “You little punk, you dare—”

“So this is the first tier of the Undying Phoenix Art?” Xie Wuji’s heart leaped with joy as he noticed a faint metallic sheen glowing on his hands, as beautiful and lustrous as gold.

Second Master Ma, meanwhile, was bewildered. This young man had broken his saber with bare hands! That blade had cut through countless foes and never chipped against even the hardest skull, yet now it was snapped in two. He frowned, reassessing Xie Wuji.

“You’re really Song Xiao’s nephew?” he demanded, pointing the broken blade at Xie Wuji.

Xie Wuji puffed out his chest. “Yes! And that’s my cousin you’re holding on your horse!”

“So there’s a hidden master in Savage Village after all. If you pay your uncle’s two months’ rent, I’ll let this go. But now you owe me an extra ten taels for breaking my weapon—a good blade’s not easy to come by.”

“How about this?” Xie Wuji fished a banknote from his pocket.

Second Master Ma’s face darkened with rage. “You trying to fool me with a piece of paper?!”

“Wait, wait! This money is magical—it can buy all sorts of things!” Xie Wuji insisted.

“Then buy something for me right now!” Second Master Ma barked.

Thinking quickly, Xie Wuji shoved his hands into his pockets, rubbing the ancient mirror inside, hoping to return to the modern world and buy something for Ma.

But to the villagers, Xie Wuji’s actions seemed bizarre—he kept one hand in his trousers, staring intently at Ma as he rubbed something. The villagers began to murmur:

“No wonder he’s called the Tree God, what a man—he can even stand up to Ma’s glare.”

“I heard he’s actually not the Tree God, but a wandering cultivator, helping the innocent.”

“No surprise, then. They say heroes have their quirks—ours seems to like wearing crotchless pants…”

Xie Wuji was exasperated by the whispers, but he found the mirror unresponsive and began rubbing faster.

Veins popped on Second Master Ma’s temples—he felt humiliated, convinced this youth was mocking him with obscene thoughts.

Enraged, he shrieked, “I’ll chop you into pieces!” and charged at Xie Wuji, broken blade raised.

Seeing danger, Xie Wuji raised both hands to block. But his hands, now indestructible, struck Ma’s horse with tremendous force. The horse screamed, its chest caved in like a punctured drum, its forelegs buckling into the earth as its hindquarters reared up, catapulting Second Master Ma straight into a tree.

The villagers had been felling that tree, and an axe was wedged in its crown. As Second Master Ma crashed into the trunk, the axe dislodged and plummeted straight down. Just as it seemed he would be killed, Song Xiao darted over and snatched the axe from the air, saving Ma’s life.

Xie Wuji now understood that Song Xiao and Song Zhong were no ordinary men. A moment ago, Song Xiao had been pleading for mercy, but in the blink of an eye he’d appeared under the tree, catching the axe effortlessly. Such skill was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

If Song Xiao was a master, Song Zhong must be too. Clearly, the two brothers had chosen to endure the yoke of Ma Stronghold for the sake of the village’s peace.