“A Chuanyun Dan (Cloud Piercing Bullet), and tens of thousands of brothers will come to meet!”
‘Bang!’
‘Rumble.’
As this bullet echoed throughout the entire Hangzhou East City, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) who had been previously stationed by Liu Feng in various places, all swarmed over.
Upon hearing the sound, the Zhenfu Division even dispatched elite soldiers and strong generals to gallop towards the East City.
Meanwhile, Xu Shan, who had deeply hidden his merits, hid in an alley with the flow of people.
“Dedicate all twenty-five years of cultivation to deducing the Lingbo Micro Step.”
His own Post-Heaven Seventh-Rank strength was not enough to contend with Liu Yaozhi.
To gain from the conflict, he had to quickly improve his realm.
As soon as Xu Shan gave the order.
The ‘25’ cultivation value on the attribute panel quickly reset to zero.
Immediately following, the deduction process, like a sudden enlightenment, enhanced his physique.
“In the twenty-first year of refining Lingbo Micro Step, you have transcended ‘flickering like a deity’ and entered ‘dust-stirring from silken socks’!”
“In the thirtieth year of Heaven rewards diligence, with ‘dust-stirring from silken socks’ and ‘wind beneath your feet’, your movements are without constant rules!”
“Time does not fail those who strive. You, who have never rested for a moment, finally entered the legendary ‘as if going, as if returning’ in the fortieth year of refining Lingbo Micro Step!”
“Learning is boundless, like a bitter boat. Forty-five years, fleeting in an instant. You have gained new insights into ‘as if going, as if returning’. You are only one step away from Grand Completion!”
‘Whoosh!’
Xu Shan, whose internal energy had circulated for several cycles within his body, felt the enhancement to his physique.
Dedicating forty-five years to deducing Lingbo Micro Step finally brought him close to Grand Completion.
Now, as light as a swallow, he possessed profound internal energy and agile movement techniques.
He even felt the signs of Three Flowers Gathering on the Crown, about to break through to the Congenital Realm!
He opened his panel, beaming with joy!
“Post-Heaven Ninth-Rank Grand Completion!”
“Just one step away from entering the Congenital Realm!”
“If I fully comprehend Lingbo Micro Step, I will definitely enter the legendary Congenital Realm.”
No wonder various heroes in the Great Ming Jianghu fought fiercely for a peerless martial art.
It turned out that by mastering such a unique skill, one could enter the Congenital Realm, which was an unattainable goal for martial cultivators.
Just as Xu Shan was immersed in the joy of his strength increasing…
In the Jin Du Tavern, one street away, Liu Feng was taking the most brutal beating!
‘Bang!’
‘Crash.’
‘Thump.’
“Ow! Ow!”
Liu Shibaihu, who was brutally smashed out of the second floor of the tavern by Liu Yaozhi, crashed through the wooden window and heavily landed on the street.
His legs were completely twisted, and he screamed in unbearable pain.
Liu Feng, covered in blood, let out helpless whimpers.
‘Whoosh!’
Liu Yaozhi, who rushed down from the second floor, had no intention of letting him go.
“Xu Shan, you dog, come get your life!”
“Huh?”
Hearing this, Liu Feng, who struggled to prop himself up, was completely dumbfounded.
Xu Shan?
Who the hell is Xu Shan!
I am Liu Feng!
At this moment, he had no time to explain.
“Save me, save me…”
‘Whoosh!’
‘Clang.’
Liu Feng’s subordinates, who had rushed over, slowed down Liu Yaozhi’s killing pace.
But even their Shibaihu was no match for the opponent, so these people's role was merely to delay.
“Die for me!”
Liu Yaozhi, holding a blade, ferociously slashed at Liu Feng, who was like a dead dog.
‘Whoosh!’
‘Clang…’
But just then, a long spear came rushing from afar.
Feeling the terrifying power contained within the spearhead, Liu Yaozhi instinctively staggered back several steps.
The next second, a graceful figure, like a shadow, grabbed the spear shaft and boldly stood in front of Liu Feng and the others.
“Qing, Qingniao Bai Hu?”
The person who arrived was none other than Qingniao, Shangguan Yan'er’s personal Bai Hu.
“Tyrant Spear?”
“What is your relationship with the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) Tongzhi (Associate Administrator) ‘Peerless Spear King’ Azure Dragon?”
Liu Yaozhi, whose tiger's mouth was bleeding from just one exchange, had clearly recognized the unique skill the opponent was using.
The Four Great Commissioners of the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) were also known as the Four Heavenly Kings: Azure Dragon, Bai Hu, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise!
Azure Dragon, who once swept across the Great Ming Jianghu with the Tyrant Spear, was infamous.
Therefore, when Qingniao used this move, Liu Yaozhi instinctively felt apprehensive.
‘Swish!’
Qingniao, a person of few words but ruthless action, did not waste words with Liu Yaozhi.
Her spear moved like a dragon, directly thrusting towards the opponent.
Liu Yaozhi, who was already two ranks lower in strength, could only put up a desperate resistance.
Now, after being struck by several spears, his decline was evident.
‘Pat, pat, pat.’
At the same time, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) experts who came to support had arrived on horseback.
Knowing that if he didn't leave now, he would very likely be surrounded, Liu Yaozhi seized the opportunity and pulled out a poison gas bomb from his embrace.
Immediately after…
With a ‘bang’, it exploded on the scene!
“This smoke is poisonous! Quickly cover your nostrils.”
Qingniao, who was well-experienced, immediately shouted.
And as soon as her words fell, Liu Yaozhi’s fierce voice reached everyone’s ears from far to near.
“Xu Shan, this Venerable One swears to take your dog life!”
“Huh?”
“Search!”
“Block the city gates and search every street.”
“He is severely wounded and can't run far.”
“Yes!”
…
Xu Shan, who had been observing the entire battle with cold eyes, swiftly pursued Liu Yaozhi after keenly discerning his escape direction, using Lingbo Micro Step.
Now, in terms of movement technique alone, even Qingniao and her group couldn't catch up.
“Protector Liu, Protector Liu…”
“I'm here!”
In the second alley, Xu Shan poked his head out and waved to Liu Yaozhi, who had been struck by several spears.
Liu Yaozhi, now completely trusting this captain who had been afflicted with the Three Corpse Brain-Eating Pill, stumbled and clutched his wounds, rushing towards him.
“First, find this Venerable One a place to heal.”
“Quick!”
As he said this, Liu Yaozhi put some wound medicine into his mouth.
‘Pfft!’
Before the wound medicine in his hand even reached his mouth, Liu Yaozhi suddenly felt his chest being pierced by a blade!
Disbelieving, he instinctively looked up, only to see Xu Shan, holding the hilt of the blade, looking at him with a cold smile and saying: “Protector Liu, haven't you always wondered how Hua Jieyu died?”
“Hmm!”
“She died just like this.”
‘Pfft, pfft!’
If it were before, Xu Shan would never have had the strength to directly pierce the body of a Congenital Third-Rank expert.
But now, no longer the unlearned person he once was, his strength and power were sufficient to take the opponent's life at such close range.
“You, you are…”
Liu Yaozhi’s pupils widened continuously, and he used all his strength to shout these few words.
Xu Shan, his smile undiminished, answered word by word: “Xu Shan!”
“Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), Xu Shan.”
‘Sizzle’
The most fatal blow ended the wicked life of this flower thief.
And the moment he fell, Xu Shan’s mind heard the system's prompt.
‘Ding-dong!’
“Congratulations to the host for fulfilling Ma Xing’s last wish.”
“System Reward: Thirty years of cultivation, Anti-Yin Yang Saber Technique!”