Chapter 25: A Bloody Jianghu

"Quicksand Technique!"

A vortex appeared out of thin air on the ground, swallowing a wild wolf. The wolf struggled desperately, but could only watch helplessly as it was consumed by the shifting sands.

"Fireball Technique!"

With a booming explosion, a large tree was blasted into countless fragments, its branches and leaves devoured by raging flames.

"Wind Control Technique!"

The black-clad youth's body suddenly became as light as a swallow, darting rapidly through the jungle. He moved with the agility of a hawk, covering two or three yards in a single stride, swift as a ghost.

When Qi flows, heaven and earth stand firm; when creation unfolds, all things find purpose.

*Puff!*

The black-clad youth seemed to feel a low sound within his body, as if a membrane had been punctured. Immediately following this, a fresh surge of Qi poured incessantly from his dantian, circulating through his meridians.

His Qi had nearly doubled. After consuming all five Qi Gathering Pills obtained from the golden-robed youth and spending another six months, he had finally reached the second level of Qi Refinement.

Lu Xiaotian opened his eyes. Because of the pill recipe he had exchanged for the Qi Gathering Pills, two of the pills' spiritual energy had gone to the black-robed elder, and he had split the remaining three with him; he had truly only used one and a half. Thinking about how much of an advantage he had given the black-robed elder, his heart ached with regret.

"We've been stuck in this desolate wilderness for over half a year. When are we leaving?" A woman in a red dress stepped out from behind a large tree, speaking to Lu Xiaotian with dissatisfaction.

"If you want to leave, go ahead. Your legs are your own; I'm not stopping you," Lu Xiaotian said indifferently.

"This place, Liangzhou, is too remote. In these past six months, we've only found a single spirit stone. I really regret coming here. Since you plan to go to Moon-Viewing Immortal City anyway, let's travel together so we can look out for each other on the road."

Lü Bifeng did not get angry at Lu Xiaotian's words. Instead, she broke into a smile. Having spent over six months together, although Lu Xiaotian was a few years younger than her, she did not dare to look down on him in the slightest. Staying in the wilderness for half a year, doing nothing but cultivating every single day—even an adult would find it difficult to maintain such composure.

"It is time to leave. Let's go."

Situ Yong's son had died, and for the past six months, he had been mobilizing various martial arts sects to search frantically for his whereabouts. Leaving would inevitably involve some risk. Previously, Lu Xiaotian had been completely ignorant of magic, but over the last six months, he had focused on practicing several low-level spells. Having achieved a modicum of mastery, he now possessed a certain level of combat strength even without the Leopard Spirit Beast.

More importantly, his supply of Qi Gathering Pills was exhausted again. To increase his cultivation further, he would have to rely on slow, arduous cultivation. He estimated that at his current pace, without the help of pills, it would take at least six or seven years, or perhaps even over a decade, to reach the third level of Qi Refinement.

After much thought, Lu Xiaotian decided to head to Moon-Viewing Immortal City. That gathering place for cultivators would also make it easier to find spirit stones and spiritual herbs.

He retrieved the Shadow Ants he had been feeding from the jade pool in the cave. After six months of effort, he had raised over twenty Shadow Ants; including the original ones, he now had more than thirty. Originally, with his current second-level Qi Refinement strength, he could only command twenty ants to fight simultaneously. However, the red-dressed woman had informed him that Shadow Ants could raise a "Leader Ant," which could command up to twenty of its kind to attack an enemy at once. Although this was not as effective as his direct command, it freed his hands to cast spells against enemies, actually increasing his combat effectiveness.

A few days later, on the official road leading to Qingzhu County, a bloated, dark-faced man and a middle-aged woman with pockmarked skin rode leisurely into view on horseback.

"I really don't understand how a young man like you can be so cautious. The Situ family only has Situ Yong at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. Even if you ran into someone at the third level, with your current strength, you should be able to suppress them. Liangzhou has nearly a hundred counties; could Situ Yong possibly set up defenses everywhere to block us?"

Lü Bifeng was naturally a beautiful woman, but after being "tossed about" by Lu Xiaotian, her face was covered in herbal pockmarks, and she wore coarse hemp clothes like a commoner. She spoke with a voice full of grievances.

"If you are confident, we can travel separately," Lu Xiaotian replied. Previously, in Pingwu County, he had been discovered and pursued by Lü Bifeng and Situ Jing. Had he not launched a sneak attack to subdue Lü Bifeng, he likely would have been killed by their combined assault. After that incident, he could not afford to be anything but cautious.

"You!"

Lü Bifeng was speechless with frustration, but she soon couldn't help but smile. She would never agree to travel separately. In terms of cultivation, Lu Xiaotian was now at the same second level as her, but he also possessed the Leopard Spirit Beast and the Shadow Ants—lethal weapons. If she encountered a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator from the Situ family alone, she would be in grave danger. The journey to Moon-Viewing Immortal City was long; it was safer to stay with Lu Xiaotian.

*Clang! Clang!*

Not far from Qingzhu County, the sounds of clashing blades and the shouts of martial artists echoed incessantly, punctuated by the occasional scream.

"Qian'er, Qingshan, go! Run!" At this moment, Zhou Lie, the Hall Master of the Discipline Hall of the Thunder Blade Sect, was leading a group of disciples to hold off the siege of dozens of experts. He was covered in blood but was still struggling to hold his ground.

"Master, if we leave, we leave together!" Shi Qingshan and another female disciple in white cried out in grief.

"Remnants of the Thunder Blade Sect, stop arguing! None of you will escape today!" On a jujube-red horse, a one-eyed man holding a large saber roared arrogantly.

The group had not escaped far before being intercepted and surrounded by arriving martial artists. Shi Qingshan fought hard to cut down two men but was entangled by two others in gray clothing.

"Senior Brother Shi!" The girl in white cried out. As she moved to attack, she was pulled back by another young martial artist with a pale face holding an iron fan.

Seeing the beauty of the girl in white, the youth's eyes lit up with a lewd expression. "Such a lovely face... truly a beauty to be pitied. After today, the Thunder Blade Sect will cease to exist. A wise bird chooses its tree carefully; why not submit to me, young lady? You could become the future Sect Leader's wife of our Five Yang Sect and enjoy endless wealth and glory."

"Keep dreaming! I'd rather fall for a toad than someone like you!" The girl in white trembled with rage.

"Ungrateful! Once I catch you and enjoy myself, I'll let the sect disciples humiliate you in every way possible!" Hearing her disdain, the youth's face darkened. He snapped his fan open, and the sharp blade at the tip swept toward the girl.

"Die!" Shi Qingshan parried two enemies with a single strike and swung his blade diagonally toward the youth with the iron fan.

*Ssh!* The two clashed, resulting in a draw, but Shi Qingshan was slashed across the back by a man in gray, leaving him bleeding profusely.

At that moment, Lu Xiaotian, traveling along the official road, happened to witness this scene. Shi Qingshan and another young martial artist were protecting a girl in white while attempting to break through the encirclement, while Hall Master Zhou Lie and his disciples were trapped by enemies numbering several times their own.

Something had happened to the Thunder Blade Sect. How? The Thunder Blade Sect was the largest gang in Qingzhu County, and even in all of Liangzhou, its strength was among the top ten.

"It's better to avoid trouble. Let's move on," Lü Bifeng said to Lu Xiaotian. Near Moon-Viewing Immortal City, she was used to seeing cultivators fighting; these brawls between secular martial artists held no interest for her.

"I've run into some acquaintances. Stay by my side for a moment; it will be resolved quickly." Lu Xiaotian drew the green longsword he had taken from Situ Jing and leaped from his horse.

"You brat, you think you can play the hero? Leave her alive; I want to humiliate her in front of this boy later," the youth with the iron fan sneered.

"How dare you!" Thinking of that horrific scene, Shi Qingshan's eyes turned bloodshot as he prepared to fight the youth to the death.

"Why wouldn't I dare!" The youth laughed, but the laughter quickly froze on his face.

*Ugh...* The youth felt a sharp pain in his throat, followed by an inability to make sound. A warm stream of blood flowed down his chest, and his throat began to whistle with air.

"Who are you to dare interfere in the affairs of my Five Yang Sect? Hand over your life!" Seeing the youth killed, the one-eyed man on horseback was both shocked and enraged. With the Young Sect Leader killed, how could he face the Sect Leader upon his return if he didn't slay this enemy?

"This man is the Vice Sect Leader of the Five Yang Sect! He is a peerless martial artist with fierce saber techniques and immense strength! Watch out!"

Zhou Lie was currently drenched in blood—some his, some his enemies'. He felt a surge of joy at receiving unexpected help in his desperate situation, but upon seeing the one-eyed man attack, his expression darkened as he shouted a warning.

*Clang!* Blades clashed.

Lu Xiaotian's wrist went numb, and he was inwardly surprised. It seemed peerless martial artists were no pushovers; despite being at the second level of Qi Refinement, he was still slightly inferior in raw strength.

"Is that all?" The one-eyed man snorted, but a flash of disbelief quickly crossed his eyes. His black steel saber, which had sliced through iron like butter for years, was actually snapped by the opponent's green sword.

*Puff!*

A large head flew several feet into the air. The one-eyed man's eyes remained wide in disbelief as his body collapsed to the ground.

The Azure Green Sword was forged from a small amount of Black Iron mixed with other ores, making it merely a low-grade spiritual tool. Yet, it had successfully snapped the precious saber of a peerless martial artist. It seemed that between secular martial artists and cultivators, the gap only widened as one progressed.

Having killed a peerless martial artist in a single move, Lu Xiaotian's confidence surged. He lunged at the other disciples of the Five Yang Sect. Everywhere he passed, he struck with decisive blows, killing over twenty people in moments.

The remaining disciples of the Five Color Sect turned pale and fled in all directions. Lu Xiaotian wanted to capture them all, but with dozens of people scattering quickly, he lacked the means to pursue them all.

"I am Zhou Lie of the Thunder Blade Sect. Thank you, brother, for your assistance! I am eternally grateful!" Zhou Lie, covered in blood, cupped his hands toward Lu Xiaotian.

"This is no place for talk. Let's find a safe place to discuss this," Lu Xiaotian said deeply.