“Given your comprehension, following Ji Tianrui’s path would be foolish, wouldn’t it?”
Li Miao said to Lan Lechuan, completely ignoring Zuo Lishan.
In the Mount Tai Sect, at this very moment, the least important person was actually Zuo Lishan, the Sect Master.
Because Lan Lechuan, surprisingly, was also a Transcendent!
The two of them understood each other’s realm the moment they exchanged blows.
The manifestation of a Transcendent varied from person to person.
To quote a High Monk who reached the Transcendent realm in the previous dynasty, those like Li Miao, whose True Qi and internal energy were perfectly integrated and who encompassed all martial arts, were called “"Jiezi".”
Lan Lechuan, however, clearly followed Ji Tianrui’s old path; his True Qi was as vast as the sea, and when he unleashed it, it was like a mountain collapsing. This was called “Mount Sumeru.”
As for Zuo Lishan, his alternative external martial arts, which made his body exceptionally tough and impervious to swords, were considered half of a “Vajra.”
Since the death of Ji Tianrui, the former leader of the Ming Cult, no one of this realm had appeared in the world for many years, yet here, three of them had gathered at once!
But it could also be explained—Li Miao, setting him aside for now, had put in effort and sweat, and there was nothing more to say.
Zuo Lishan had taken an evil path, leading to endless troubles and significantly shortening his lifespan.
Few Transcendent experts in the world were willing to make such a choice, turning themselves into something neither human nor ghost, only to die after two or three years of glory. Even Zuo Lishan himself was forced into a corner by Li Miao before he had no choice but to take such a desperate risk.
And Lan Lechuan’s ability to cross the Transcendent threshold… naturally had his own reasons.
Returning to the present, Li Miao and Lan Lechuan exchanged a blow, and while surprised by each other’s martial arts realm, they both felt the other was foolish.
In that exchange, Li Miao’s left fist used “Iron Sand Palm” combined with “Carry and Block Punch,” his right palm used “Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill” combined with “Mount Sumeru Palm,” his chest was protected by “Iron Cloth Shirt,” and his footwork was “Swallow Piercing Cloud.”
There wasn't a single part of his body not using martial arts; he was undoubtedly a “"Jiezi".”
Given Li Miao’s peerless bone structure, following the “Mount Sumeru” path, overwhelming others with strength, would have been twice as effective. Even following the “Vajra” path would have been fine. Yet, he chose to cultivate “"Jiezi",” which required the most comprehension.
Lan Lechuan, on the other hand, came from the Ming Cult, was a disciple of Ji Tianrui, possessed extraordinary comprehension, and had dabbled in various Ming Cult martial arts. His bone structure was not remarkably astonishing, so he should have ideally followed the “"Jiezi"” path.
Li Miao sized up Lan Lechuan: “Forget it, I don’t care what path you take.”
“After I kill you two, I still have other matters.”
Li Miao beckoned to the two of them: “Come.”
Lan Lechuan, angered, laughed instead, striking with a palm from a distance. True Qi formed a handprint in mid-air, causing shattered stones to fly as it passed, revealing it to be the Ming Cult’s ultimate technique, “Great Nine Heavens Hand.”
Zuo Lishan, knowing it was a desperate situation, instantly unleashed a sword strike, “Towering Ridge Across the Sky,” towards Li Miao.
Li Miao ducked, placing his right hand on his left ribs, his palm joined like a blade.
Then he suddenly slashed upwards diagonally!
Swish!!
A cold light flashed in mid-air, and Li Miao’s True Qi actually materialized into a tangible arc.
It was the “One Slash” from the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards)’s Iron Shackles War Summons techniques: “One Slash, One Axe, One Hook, One Cannon”!
It was incomparably sharp!
Bang!!
Lan Lechuan’s “Great Nine Heavens Hand” was directly cut in half mid-air by this One Slash, the remaining parts splitting into two and grazing past Li Miao, striking the wall and shattering the entire wall with a thunderous crash.
“Ah!”
Zuo Lishan abruptly retreated, his long sword broken into two pieces, his left hand clutching his left eye, blood profusely seeping through his fingers.
With a single move, he had defeated two Transcendent experts!
However, Lan Lechuan and Zuo Lishan both knew at this moment that they had no time for awe or surprise when facing Li Miao.
Li Miao had become serious, no longer teasing them like children, making a remark after every move. Now, with killing intent ignited, he no longer held back.
Zuo Lishan’s remaining right eye blurred, and he saw Li Miao had already appeared before him.
A claw aimed for his chest!
If Zuo Lishan hadn’t been injured, even if he had taken that claw head-on, he would have still given Li Miao a sword strike.
But Li Miao’s initial palm strike had already shattered his sternum, and now there was only flesh and blood between his chest and heart. If he were truly caught by that claw, Li Miao would likely rip his heart out immediately!
Lan Lechuan had also closed in on Li Miao, not even glancing at Zuo Lishan, nor attempting to save him, but simply striking at Li Miao’s head with a palm.
“If Zuo Lishan dies, then he dies. If I can take Li Miao down today, it won’t be a loss!”
In his desperation, Zuo Lishan also became ruthless, a desperate cleverness emerging.
He suddenly dug into his left hand, which was covering his left eye, and squeezed a ball of foul blood into his palm, scattering it towards Li Miao’s face.
His body was full of Gu worms; this blood contained Gu poison.
Miao Jiang Gu techniques were not of the same path as Central Plains martial arts; even with strong True Qi, it was difficult to defend against.
As the blood was in mid-air, Zuo Lishan didn’t stay idle. With no sword in hand, he pointed his right fingers like a sword, stabbing towards Li Miao’s groin.
“Tsk!”
This was the second time Zuo Lishan had attacked Li Miao’s lower body.
Li Miao changed his right hand to a fist, first raising it to block the foul blood with his sleeve.
Then he slammed it fiercely onto Zuo Lishan’s back, who was stooping to attack his groin!
Bang!!!
This punch was the authentic “Mind-Intention Fist.”
It directly slammed Zuo Lishan to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth!
And Lan Lechuan’s “Great Nine Heavens Hand” had already reached Li Miao’s ear!
Li Miao raised his shoulder to block, but it was too late to activate his external martial arts.
This palm strike landed heavily on Li Miao’s shoulder.
Instantly, Li Miao’s upper body clothing was torn to shreds by the True Qi, scattering in the air.
Lan Lechuan moved his feet, sending a burst of True Qi into Zuo Lishan, propelling him a zhang away, while he himself also retreated rapidly.
Only after retreating two or three zhang did Lan Lechuan look up at Li Miao.
Li Miao was now bare-chested, revealing muscles like twisted steel wires, a tiger back, a bee waist, and clearly defined blocks.
There was a dark palm print on his right shoulder, and bruised blood seeped from his skin.
This palm strike had finally truly injured Li Miao.
But Lan Lechuan was surprised and uncertain, blurting out: “You’re not a ‘"Jiezi"’!”
“No, you’re not just a ‘"Jiezi"’… you’re also a ‘Vajra’!”
Lan Lechuan’s palm strike was the Ming Cult’s protective ultimate technique, “Great Nine Heavens Hand,” and he had held nothing back; it was a full-force strike. Even a block of raw iron would have had a palm print left on it.
But Li Miao clearly hadn’t had time to activate his external martial arts; he had taken that palm strike head-on with his physical body and self-circulating True Qi!
This was something even Zuo Lishan, whose body had been modified by Gu worms, wouldn’t dare to imagine!
That’s right, that’s right. For many years, no master had cultivated “"Jiezi",” leading Lan Lechuan to make a misjudgment.
When Li Miao first used his fist to meet Lan Lechuan’s sharp True Qi, he only sustained minor skin injuries. Lan Lechuan merely thought it was the “"Jiezi"”’s mystique, able to use external martial arts with divine mastery, turning decay into wonder.
But now it seemed, how could the common “Iron Sand Palm” so easily block his “Xuantian Finger”!
He was clearly using half external True Qi and half his physical body to resist!
Li Miao turned to look at the injury on his shoulder, True Qi surged, and the bruised blood was forced out of his body.
“After taking your palm, with True Qi entering my body, I finally felt it.”
“Your True Qi isn’t something you cultivated yourself; it’s full of Ji Tianrui’s scent.”
“No wonder he died so easily back then, no wonder you could cross the Transcendent threshold, and your True Qi is even stronger than his… Did he transfer all his cultivation to you before he died?”
Li Miao looked at Lan Lechuan.
“Forget it, I can’t understand the thoughts of you religious fanatics from the Ming Cult.”
“Since you’ve fully inherited Ji Tianrui’s cultivation, it will still take some time to kill both of you.”
Li Miao swept his gaze across the re-standing Zuo Lishan and Lan Lechuan: “Run.”
“I have to leave in one incense stick’s time to save my subordinate; I don’t have much time to spare for your two worthless lives.”
“One incense stick. If anyone can survive, then don’t ever appear before me again.”