Poof!
The Saber Aura flashed and disappeared, and three heads flew into the sky.
Lu Ming dragged the three headless corpses into the bushes.
These were the thirty-second Golden Money Gang and Cao Gang Disciples he had killed.
His Kill Value had also accumulated to 3200 points, enough for him to make another Breakthrough.
The Golden Money Gang had set up layers of checkpoints and blockades on the road to Lian River. It took Lu Ming three hours, and by the time the sky was completely bright, he had rushed to the Lian River bank.
Through the reeds and aquatic plants, he could already see the crisscrossing small boats on the river.
“The Cao Gang has indeed blocked the waterway.”
Lu Ming’s eyes were solemn. He could vaguely see a few familiar figures among the Faces on the small boats.
The original body was a handyman for the Cao Gang, and he still had some acquaintance with the people of the Cao Gang.
But he didn't dare to rush over and ask them for help.
Human nature cannot withstand testing.
Moreover, his arrival here had already achieved his goal.
Downstream along the Lian River was Qiwu City, which could be reached by a day's water journey because it was downstream; going upstream, one could reach Lu'an City by land.
Everyone would assume Lu Ming would take the waterway, after all, he had gone through great hardships, killing thirty-two Disciples all the way to the Lian River bank; plus, he himself was a Cao Gang Disciple, familiar with waterways.
However, Lu Ming did the opposite.
No one expected him to turn back at the Lian River bank and choose to travel by land.
Lu Ming looked around, confirmed that no one had discovered him, and then turned around without hesitation, leaving in another direction.
In less than fifteen minutes, Golden Money Gang Disciples discovered the three bodies.
… …
“Gang Leader, these are the bodies of Disciples found by the Lian River. Including these three, a total of thirty-two of our Golden Money Gang Disciples have died at Lu Ming’s hands.”
A Golden Money Gang Disciple respectfully reported to Jin Bao.
Advisor Xie’s Face was grim as he sat below.
Receiving a nod from Jin Bao, he walked a few steps to the side of the bodies and uncovered the burlap.
“The cuts are clean, all one-hit kills!”
“This saber is powerful and overbearing. The person who struck is definitely a Saber Dao expert.”
After Advisor Xie finished speaking, his eyes glanced at another important figure sitting beside Jin Bao, Master Feng, the Branch Leader of the Cao Gang.
“You surname Xie, what do you mean?”
Before Master Feng could speak, Ma Chun immediately stepped forward to reprimand Advisor Xie.
“Heh heh…”
“Lu Ming’s escape route was towards the Lian River, and these last three bodies were directly by the Lian River. Coupled with the previous Mountain-Opening Fist, your Cao Gang…”
“Shouldn’t you explain clearly?”
Advisor Xie’s tone was cold, showing no Face to Ma Chun.
“What, do you suspect someone in our Cao Gang helped him in secret?”
At this moment, Master Feng, who was at the head of the table, paused his action of twirling two iron beads in his hand, and spoke coldly.
His voice was very faint, but a terrifying Aura spread out, already forcing cold sweat to trickle down Advisor Xie’s forehead.
“Heh…”
Jin Bao let out a sneer, instantly dispelling the terrifying pressure, and Advisor Xie recovered.
“Master Feng, this is my Golden Money Gang’s territory. You are not allowed to be presumptuous.”
As soon as his voice fell, two figures immediately shot out and arrived below the hall.
The Golden Money Gang and the Cao Gang were originally opposing forces. This time, due to Sword King City, they were forced to cooperate, but this cooperation itself was pitifully fragile.
Now, the people from Sword King City were dead, and Lu Ming had escaped. Whether he could be caught or not, it was best to find someone to take the blame.
A conflict was on the verge of breaking out.
Clang!
A flash of cold light appeared, and Jin Bao directly drew the treasured sword from his waist.
Swish!
With a thrust of his sword, the Saber Aura immediately enveloped Master Feng's body, filling the room with cold light.
“Heh… Ha!”
Master Feng did not dodge or evade, he let out a loud shout, his muscles bulged, and the skin on his arms turned bluish-grey, hard as iron.
He spread his five fingers and directly plunged them into the Saber Aura, like a cow's tongue rolling grass, extinguishing all of Jin Bao's Saber Aura.
Thump thump!
The two each took a step back.
Jin Bao looked surprised, “You’ve had a Breakthrough?”
He was a master of the Seventh Rank Middle Stage, while Master Feng was only of the Seventh Rank Early Stage, so he had absolute confidence in overturning the table. However, in their brief exchange just now, he found that Master Feng’s strength was not weaker than his. It was likely that he had either had a Breakthrough or was on the verge of one.
“Hmph!”
Master Feng did not answer Jin Bao, but merely snorted coldly.
“I'll say it one last time, the Cao Gang absolutely did not help Lu Ming.”
“If anyone among you dares to slander the Cao Gang, I, Feng, will not let them off lightly.”
Master Feng flicked his sleeve, turned directly and left, and the Cao Gang members behind him also followed suit.
As soon as they left the Golden Money Gang, Master Feng immediately called Ma Chun.
“Elder Ma, immediately take your men and secretly investigate the skilled sabermen in the Gang. If you find anything abnormal, deal with it immediately.”
“Gang Leader, do you suspect…?”
“Hmm, Lu Ming is just an ordinary Cao Gang handyman Disciple. He doesn’t know any saber techniques at all. The wounds on those bodies would be very difficult for someone who hasn't Cultivated for several years to inflict.”
“Yes!”
Ma Chun understood immediately and quietly left with a few trusted confidants.
At the same time, by the mountain path leading to Lu'an City, in a hidden patch of grass.
“System, add points!”
“Half to Shen Zhao Sutra, half to Five Tigers Severing Door Saber.”
【Ding! Points added successfully, consuming 3200 Kill Value!】
【Shen Zhao Sutra (21/100), Five Tigers Severing Door Saber (23/100)!】
Buzz!
In an instant, Lu Ming’s body seemed to be enveloped by a warm current, his entire being turned reddish, and white hot Qi churned on his body.
Poof!
One Bottleneck after another was broken through.
Ninth Rank Middle Stage!
Ninth Rank Late Stage!
… …
Eighth Rank Early Stage!
Ha!
Eighth Rank reached!
Lu Ming slowly opened his eyes and moved his body, immediately emitting a sound like popping beans.
He clenched his fist slightly, and the power within his body immediately roared.
“The Shen Zhao Sutra truly lives up to its reputation. Once Cultivated to Perfection, it can open the Ren and Du Meridians, becoming a Sixth Rank master.”
“Although it's very strong now, it's still lacking something.”
Lu Ming was somewhat dissatisfied. Reaching for more, people are sometimes like this.
However, after this upgrade, the lethality of the Five Tigers Severing Door Saber was already showing its initial signs.
Now he only hoped that some Golden Money Gang members would stick their heads out for him to chop a few times.
“Giddy up!”
“Be careful, don’t damage the goods!”
Just then, a group of people appeared on the mountain road in the distance.
These people were all dressed as escorts, led by a man of forty or fifty, with a Qing Gang Sword hanging at his waist.
Lu Ming recognized this sword, and he recognized this person.
Luo Wuxie, the Chief Escort of Hongyuan Escort Agency.
They had met several times when he was in the Cao Gang, but the other party didn't seem to recognize him.
Behind him followed a group of escort Disciples, one of whom was slender. Although dressed in men's clothing, her arched eyebrows like distant mountains and her delicate, upturned nose undoubtedly indicated that she was a charming young girl.
At some point, Lu Ming was already standing by the roadside, his clothes tattered like a beggar, watching this group of people approach from a distance and come before him.
These people passed by Lu Ming as if they hadn't seen him.
Only the female escort disguised as a man stopped, her bright, watery eyes scrutinizing him.
“Are you a saberman?”
Lu Ming nodded.
“How did you end up like this?”
She seemed very surprised how a young saberman could be reduced to a beggar. Joining any Gang or guarding a home would have allowed him to live well.
Lu Ming didn't answer. He just shook his head.
“Here, take this.”
She took out a few dry biscuits from the backpack behind her and handed them to Lu Ming.
The latter was a little surprised, but he still took the biscuits.
“Can you give me a clean set of clothes too?” Lu Ming requested.
This was very unreasonable.
A stranger, meeting by chance, if someone can give you some dry rations, it's already overly generous.
You're still asking for more from them.
At this moment, the group of escorts already showed disdain in their eyes.
However, the girl just smiled brightly, turned her horse around.
In a short while, she really brought a clean set of clothes to Lu Ming.
“Here, for you!”
“Thank you!” Lu Ming did not stand on ceremony and took the clothes from her hand.
Afterward, he watched them slowly drive away from the road.
Although Lu Ming knew that their destination was the same as his, Lu'an City, he still chose not to travel with them.