Stronger by Killing

The night was deep, and snow was swirling.

The bustling and noisy Qingfeng Building had become extremely chaotic, with many witnessing the battle inside and fearing the consequences, wanting to leave. However, when they rushed outside, they saw that the area outside Qingfeng Building was densely packed with swordsmen.

At that moment, everyone was in terror and quickly returned to Qingfeng Building to hide, making this famous gold trading hub in Pingyang City eerily silent.

To be exact, the area around Qingfeng Building was particularly quiet, with the cold night wind brushing against the shop signs on the broken street sounding like the rustle of pine needles.

In rows of alleys, many people were walking through the snow, holding weapons, but were very quiet, with no one speaking. It was as if nothing else existed except for the wind, rain, and the killing aura enveloping the streets, so quiet it was almost dead.

The number of people outside Qingfeng Building kept increasing,

while the clashing sounds of weapons and cries of battle inside also gradually became silent,

and the flickering shadows under the candlelight slowly faded away, as if the puppet show had reached its end.

Gu Zhan walked out from Qingfeng Building,

drenched in black clothes stained with blood, holding a blood-dripping Horizontal Saber, walking slowly without a sideways glance.

He was accompanied only by Zuo Yang, while the rest had suffered severe injuries.

Zuo Yang was holding an oil paper umbrella for Gu Zhan. The snowflakes fluttered down, some still landing on Gu Zhan but instantly stained red by the blood.

As the two of them slowly moved forward,

the crowd gathered in the long streets outside Qingfeng Building also increased, following slowly along, creating an oppressive atmosphere that was suffocating. The customers and women inside Qingfeng Building trembled, even dared not breathe too loudly despite being far away.

Zuo Yang had suffered quite a few injuries, walking while holding the umbrella, bleeding profusely, his face growing paler, his breath becoming more hurried. Looking at the densely packed silhouettes, his heart sank to the bottom.

The entrance was sheltered from the wind and snow by a pavilion.

Gu Zhan slowly stopped, softly saying, "You can stop here."

Zuo Yang replied quietly, "Sir..."

"You’ve come far enough." Gu Zhan smiled and said, "After tonight, in Pingyang City, you will be second only to one."

Zuo Yang’s whole body trembled. He took a deep breath and looked at the densely packed crowd, pointing at a slightly overweight middle-aged man, saying, "That is one of the heads of the three largest gangs in Pingyang City, Lu the Third Duke, known in the Martial World as Lu the Third Duke, whose cultivation has reached the Innate Peak. He wielded spears with varied lengths masterfully for many years. The main business of Feihua Bang is trafficking people, and besides Yunxi, Yundong, and Northern Territory, many brothels have their businesses. Regardless of age, as long as there is a need, they sell."

Gu Zhan nodded slightly.

Zuo Yang then pointed towards an older woman, hunched in the crowd, saying, "That is Red Flower Granny, the leader of Red Flower Society, also at the Innate Peak in cultivation. She loves kidnapping young people for Yin Yang Replenishment, so despite her age, she maintains peak power and excels in hidden weapons. Red Flower Society is the biggest source of Five Stone Powder in Pingyang City. Many have lost their families, homes broken, wives left because of them."

After speaking, Zuo Yang pointed at a scholarly middle-aged man standing next to Luo Huaiyang, wearing a confucian robe, looking like a scholar, saying, "That is Nie Wenzhao, Manor Master of Juyi Manor, who gained a scholarly title in his youth but abandoned literature for martial arts, establishing the Juyi Bang. His cultivation is also at the Innate Peak, holding the title Fast Sword Scholar. The Juyi Bang’s business is broad, consisting of black market shops, killers, casinos, and more, recruiting many infamous individuals from the Martial World. Nie Wenzhao is infamous for coveting wives, causing numerous family destructions and kidnappings."

Gu Zhan chuckled lightly, "There’s truly not a single good person here."

"There used to be," Zuo Yang said, "but they didn’t live long."

Gu Zhan nodded.

Zuo Yang continued, "These three are the most powerful in Pingyang City, followed by the second tier like Luo Huaiyang, Gu Yuanzhong and others, around ten here, many more Innate Martial Artists we can’t finish talking about right now."

"No need to say more,"

Gu Zhan waved his hand, saying, "They’re all dead anyway, remembering them serves no purpose. You’d better go inside. When the fight starts, I won’t be able to protect you."

"Understood." Zuo Yang clasped hands in salute and slowly left.

On the long street, the crowd grew even denser,

stretching beyond sight.

Luo Huaiyang finally removed the dagger lodged in his palm, wrapped his hand in cloth, took two steps forward, and said sternly, "Gu Zhan, everyone here desires nothing more than power, money, and women. We can offer these things to you, but one must not be too greedy. You might be an Overseas Chinese, but we are not Paper Tigers. You wish for us to submit to you upon your arrival. There’s no such principle in this world!"

Luo Huaiyang took a deep breath, saying, "You should know the difficulty of angering the masses. You are too arrogant. Each of us has been in the game for decades, climbing step by step to where we are today. What makes you think you qualify to step over us?"

Gu Zhan squinted his eyes, slowly saying, "Finished talking? If so, let me send you on your way!"

"Arrogant!" Luo Huaiyang shouted furiously, "Gu Zhan, all major gangs and thousands of skilled individuals in Pingyang City are here today. You dare to challenge alone, utterly arrogant. Initially, considering your youthful success, we were inclined to spare you a chance, yet you stubbornly seek death!"

Gu Zhan chuckled softly, "How utterly tiresome. Why do people insist on finding justification to place themselves on moral high ground and condemn others? Does it hold any significance? You’re all a band of dead men!"

"Arrogant!"

Luo Huaiyang screamed fiercely, "He’s just one man, not divine; everyone get him, exhaust him to death!"

In the Martial World, what is never lacking are hot-blooded fools and those secretly yearning for fame in one strike. With Luo Huaiyang’s fierce shout, the multitude of Martial World talents raised their steel sabers and rushed in from all directions!

Gu Zhan held the Horizontal Saber calmly,

and at that instant, summoned the system:

[Utilize 30,000 Experience Points]

[Upgrade Creation Golden Body to Entry Level]

...

[Utilize 50,000 Experience Points]

[Upgrade Creation Golden Body to Minor Success Realm]

...

[Utilize 100,000 Experience Points]

[Upgrade Creation Golden Body to Great Success Realm]

In an instant,

Earth Tier Martial Arts Creation Golden Body directly achieved Great Success,

causing the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to suddenly ripple around, seemingly converging towards Gu Zhan,

shrouding him in waves of golden light.

Facing the furious onslaught of Martial World men, he revealed an aura commanding the world, softly saying:

"Then let it be, those who submit shall prosper, those who resist shall perish!"