Chapter 78: Unrivaled Might Unleashed Once More

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Invincible Aura Unleashed Again

Since Wu Hong entered deep meditation, he had lost all sense of time, while the energy within his body compressed furiously. Normally, before reaching the Bone Refining stage, true energy could only exist within flesh and blood, unable to manifest outside the body. For most practitioners at the Bone Refining stage, true energy existed in gaseous form, allowing them to simply absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to temper themselves. The most powerful masters at the peak of the Postnatal stage could transform their true energy into liquid form, coexisting with their blood.

Wu Hong continued to compress the vast energy within his body, gradually transforming his true energy into a solid state. This was unprecedented and unheard of, perhaps only achievable at the legendary Innate stage, where true energy might exist in solid form. Wu Hong was oblivious and unaware, yet the energy outside his body grew increasingly wild. The mountaintop, dozens of meters above his head, was overturned by the raging energy. Massive boulders weighing tens of thousands of pounds shattered and flew in all directions, but not a single stone could approach within ten meters of Wu Hong. His true energy radiated outward, forming a thousand-foot aura; beams of golden light broke through all barriers, creating violent currents centered around Wu Hong's body. Fierce winds howled, and this state lasted for nearly half a month.

Wu Hong felt a surge of joy within, recognizing he had entered the Bone Refining stage. He sensed streams of spiritual energy from heaven and earth rushing into his body. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, two golden beams shooting straight into the sky. The thousand-foot golden aura enveloping him abruptly contracted, and the flying debris fell to the base of the mountain.

"Kill the demon Wu Hong?" As soon as Wu Hong opened his eyes, shouts of murder echoed from below. He looked down, golden light flashing in his eyes, and a ray shot toward the crowd. With a scream, a martial arts expert was pierced through by the golden light, blood spraying everywhere. The crowd was stunned. To kill a man from a hundred yards away with a glance that contained true energy—terrifying.

Wu Hong saw Li Ruolan and the Old Man of Ten Thousand Poisons locked in an iron cage at the foot of the mountain. In a flash, he leapt down from the peak. The crowd was shocked—it was over a hundred yards! A normal person would be smashed to pieces, yet Wu Hong jumped down just like that.

With a thunderous crash, Wu Hong appeared before the crowd at the foot of the mountain. The hard rocky ground was fractured by the immense impact of his landing. The onlookers shut their mouths tight, clicking their tongues in astonishment. As the dust settled, everyone was amazed.

"Isn't he Wu Hong the demon? He's Hong Wu?" Someone in the crowd suddenly recognized him. Wu Hong looked at the speaker, smiled slightly, and cupped his hands. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed Wu Hong, but I am not the villain in the martial world who has been impersonating me and committing evil. I am the real Wu Hong; that man is a fraud."

Li Ruolan was stunned by the Wu Hong before her, uncertain if he was truly the Wu Hong she knew.

Even the Old Man of Ten Thousand Poisons, who had seen Wu Hong just days before, now felt unsure—Wu Hong's appearance had changed again. His whole body gleamed with golden radiance, his figure tall and slender, even his height had increased. His hair, once black, now flowed in streaks of yellow and black down to his waist. The change was dramatic. The Wu Hong of legend was gaunt, with sallow skin, more like an evil spirit than a man. Now, Wu Hong appeared sacred and imposing, save for a hint of similarity in his bone structure; otherwise, there was no trace of his former self.

Wu Hong glanced at his enormous, glass-like hand and couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart. "Practicing this Supreme Sun Sutra, my appearance keeps changing—who knows what I'll become in the end? Is it so difficult just to be myself?"

"Brother, is it really you?" Wu Songran looked at the unfamiliar yet familiar man before her in confusion.

"Ran, you don't recognize me either? That time in the air, my fall was not light," Wu Hong said with a smile.

"Ah! Brother, it really is you! How did you change like this—you've become even more handsome!"

Wu Songran rushed from the crowd, running with quick steps to embrace Wu Hong.

Wu Hong was taken aback, patting her shoulder. "Ran, don't get so excited. I have business to attend to—step aside for now."

"Ladies and gentlemen, though I am not the evil Wu Hong you speak of, Miss Li Ruolan is my benefactress. Today, I must rescue her and her master. I hope you will not hinder me!"

Wu Hong spoke loudly to the martial artists around him.

"So he is Hong Wu! Could it be this young man is the real Wu Hong? That villain in the martial world was always an impostor?" The crowd began to discuss. Many below the Bone Refining stage whispered, while those at the peak of the Postnatal stage were alarmed. Though Wu Hong's appearance had changed greatly, upon close inspection, he was indeed the one who had escaped Blackwood Cliff that night.

"Everyone, don't be deceived by his words. This man is definitely connected to the real Wu Hong demon; otherwise, he wouldn't be trying so hard to rescue Wu Hong's lover," Xiao Dongfang stepped forward two paces and shouted loudly, his voice reaching the ears of all hesitant martial artists.

"That's right, don't be deceived. He and Wu Hong the demon are in league. That night, we all saw it with our own eyes atop Blackwood Cliff," Zhao Luo, who once trapped Wu Hong with the Heavenly Net, said.

People's hearts are easily swayed by rumors and greed. Hearing several peak masters say so, the crowd recalled Wu Hong snatching a divine weapon at Monkey Valley, and many were tempted by the thought of seizing it.

Many thought, "No matter who you are, you possess a great treasure! There are tens of thousands of experts here, what can you do alone? The situation is not like Monkey Valley—there are nearly a hundred peak Postnatal masters, plus countless martial artists and Imperial Guards, more than a hundred thousand strong. Such a vast force, how could you possibly be a threat?"

With these thoughts, the crowd grew restless, their intentions clear even without words.

Wu Hong sighed helplessly, shaking his head. "I have never committed evil in the martial world. Why am I so unwelcome in this community?"

Humans are indeed creatures easily deceived by appearances.

"Are you the real Wu Hong? I have only one question: the one who raped... my father's concubine, was it you?" A powerful voice cut through all the noise, drawing everyone's attention.

The crowd was shocked—this was none other than the Third Prince of the Imperial Court, Yang Wei! Though not the eldest son of Emperor Yang Guang, Yang Wei was outstanding in martial arts and strategy. The Crown Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty was chosen after careful consideration, not necessarily the eldest son; only the one excelling in martial arts, literature, and all other aspects could be heir.

Wu Hong knew this man. To him, Yang Wei had always been a lofty figure. In the capital, Wu Lie, though a talented son of the Wu Wei Palace, was always overshadowed by the Crown Prince Yang Wei—a peak Postnatal master, truly formidable.

Wu Hong replied, "Crown Prince Yang Wei, I remember you. Perhaps you have little impression of the former useless me, but I never killed your father, nor have I committed evil in the martial world."

Yang Wei's expression changed, and he believed Wu Hong's words in his heart. "The Wu Hong who wreaked havoc in the imperial palace was arrogant, disregarding royal authority. Yet this man is courteous—surely not the same person." Still, Yang Wei had no intention of letting Wu Hong go, for Wu Hong was still accused of patricide and fleeing.

But what had transformed Wu Hong from a useless youth to this powerful man? And how had he grown so strong in just a few short years?

From within the crowd, Qing Yangzi's face changed dramatically upon seeing Wu Hong. He knew that he was no match for Wu Hong in a direct confrontation, no matter how many times over. Quietly, while the crowd was distracted, he edged toward Li Ruolan and suddenly struck, his palm whistling with the sound of wind and thunder, frightening in its momentum.

"Despicable!" Wu Hong's face darkened. He struck out with his massive hand, unleashing a palm imprint of pure true energy that blasted through the air. A giant hand formed entirely of true energy expanded dozens of meters, pressing down on Qing Yangzi.

Wu Hong's sudden attack was terrifying. The masters around Qing Yangzi reacted, releasing sword energy dozens of meters long aimed at Wu Hong's true energy hand.

Qing Yangzi felt his movements slow, as though trapped in a swamp, unable to exert force. His whole body glowed with green light, struggling fiercely.

With a thunderous boom, dozens of peak Postnatal masters unleashed true energy, sword energy, blade energy, and palm strikes against Wu Hong's giant true energy hand. The crowd felt as if struck by lightning, their bodies trembling. With a collective gasp, dozens of masters spat blood, their potential forced out, their true energy surging wildly to barely withstand Wu Hong's palm imprint.

Wu Hong had taken on dozens of peak masters head-on. Though they were caught off guard, they were all simultaneously shaken and spat blood—testament to the power of his blow.

The warriors watching were petrified.

The Old Man of Ten Thousand Poisons, seeing Wu Hong's attack, seemed to have a sudden insight. He closed his eyes within the iron cage and began to meditate, ignoring everything outside.