Stronger by Killing

"Heh heh." "Heh heh."

Chen Ranfeng laughed softly twice, then said slowly, "Gu Qianhu, in fact, these days in the Pingyang Martial World, all major forces appreciate you. With your talent, among the young generation in Pingyang, no one can compare to you. Had you been born in one of the native factions, you’d have brought another hundred years of glory to that sect, perhaps even rise higher."

Gu Zhan took a sip of tea and said, "I am well aware."

Chen Ranfeng continued, "It’s just a pity you chose the wrong master. So many chances to pick, yet you followed the Sixth Young Master. That move was a huge mistake and dragged you into the abyss."

After he finished, Chen Ranfeng sighed, speaking softly, "This Embroidered Uniform Guard is causing trouble for over two months, time to end this farce. Gu Qianhu, one must keep awe in his heart when mixing in the Martial World. When picking a backer, you must choose one that’s reliable to hold up your recklessness."

Gu Zhan’s expression did not change; he spoke plainly, "I have never relied on anyone. My only backer is myself."

Chen Ranfeng smiled and said, "Young men—with talent and strength—ought to be arrogant, but, ah..."

He sighed, then declared in a loud voice, "Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand Households Gu Zhan, disregarding Martial World duty, reckless and unrestrained, harming martial companions without cause, framing Righteous Martial Dao without any evidence, intending to incite martial chaos. Lingxi Sword Sect, as a righteous sect, bears the duty to uphold Martial World virtue, and hereby apprehends Gu Zhan, to hand him over to Canglan City for disposal, as a warning to others!"

With that,

Chen Ranfeng reached out to grab Gu Zhan, speaking nonchalantly, "Gu Qianhu, you have recklessly harmed the Righteous Martial Dao. Come with me!"

That palm extended,

In an instant, the air within several yards was suddenly frozen,

The seemingly ordinary palm,

Became a cage, imprisoning the surroundings; Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi tensed up in that moment,

Many Martial Artists around felt a terrifying pressure; some with lower cultivation spat blood and were thrown backward, while even the Innate Martial Artists were pushed back by an invisible force.

Gu Zhan, at the center of that force, felt its terror more directly,

If an ordinary Great Innate Martial Artist faced such a palm, the pressure alone would cause heavy injuries; if struck, one would be crippled if not dead.

Chen Ranfeng’s words were to hand Gu Zhan over to Canglan City, but his hand aimed to kill.

"Bang"

As the palm pressed in,

The teacup in Gu Zhan’s hand shattered,

Pieces of ceramic shot out, one shard flew straight towards Chen Ranfeng’s hand, instantly piercing the imprisoned Primordial Qi, then smashing through Chen Ranfeng’s True Essence Body-Protecting Gang Qi.

In that instant,

Chen Ranfeng’s face changed dramatically, shock flickered in his eyes,

How could he not realize,

Everyone underestimated Gu Zhan’s true strength,

This was not an Innate Peak Martial Artist; it was clearly a Dao Realm Great Cultivator.

In that instant,

Cold sweat poured from him, and he hurried to retreat,

Yet, as he withdrew his hand,

Gu Zhan, wearing a faint smile, reached out and seized Chen Ranfeng’s arm, the massive force locking Chen Ranfeng in place so he couldn’t withdraw.

Simultaneously, the ceramic shard pierced straight through Chen Ranfeng’s palm.

"Pop"—a soft sound,

The shard embedded in his palm, tearing flesh, blood bursting forth like a blossom of scarlet.

This entire process,

Though it sounds long, happened in a flash,

All anyone saw was Chen Ranfeng unleashing Great Cultivator force to seize Gu Zhan, only for Gu Zhan to trap his arm, and then a shard from the teacup punctured Chen Ranfeng’s palm.

Chen Ranfeng let out a muffled groan, and in that split second, his other hand drew his sword and slashed at Gu Zhan,

This sword strike did not have the surging True Qi of Innate Martial Artists in battle, nor the flickering brilliance of a Sword Dao master—just a simple slash,

But this sword,

Was so fast no one saw; no one realized Chen Ranfeng had already struck,

Only Gu Zhan, who barely tilted his head back,

The blade almost grazed his throat as it swept past.

"Clang!"—a thunderous noise,

In that instant,

Gu Zhan’s Horizontal Saber appeared, upright before him, blocking the strike and splitting the sword’s blow.

Chen Ranfeng raised an eyebrow, flicking his longsword into a sword flower, poised to strike again,

Saber and sword collided,

A fierce buzzing erupted, accompanied by a terrifying shockwave, flipping everyone within ten feet, some screaming and spitting blood, others retreating in panic, and Embroidered Uniform Guard steeds shrieked.

"Clang!"

The Horizontal Saber in Gu Zhan’s hand and the longsword in Chen Ranfeng’s were both knocked away, crashing to the ground.

But in that moment,

Gu Zhan, gripping Chen Ranfeng’s arm, gave a hard yank,

Chen Ranfeng stumbled, falling from his chair, his body involuntarily pitched forward; the hand pierced by the teacup shard slapped onto the table,

At the same time,

A willow-leaf-shaped Flying Saber appeared in Gu Zhan’s hand; he stabbed it into Chen Ranfeng’s palm, nailing it to the table.

"Ah!"

Chen Ranfeng let out a hysterical howl,

Immediately, his other hand turned from palm to fist, smashing at Gu Zhan.

"Hmph."

Gu Zhan snorted coldly, his arm erupting in bursts of golden light, swinging his fist in return.

The fists collided,

With a cracking sound as bone snapped.

Chen Ranfeng howled in agony again,

As their fists met, Chen Ranfeng’s arm collapsed; a bone splintered straight out from his elbow.

Both hands crippled,

One broken, the other pinned by the knife to the table.

Chen Ranfeng panicked, hurriedly saying, "Gu Qianhu, I admit defeat..."

"Bang"

Just then,

Gu Zhan flipped upright, a whip kick struck Chen Ranfeng’s neck; Chen Ranfeng’s body flew backward, crashing into a Martial Artist, but the tremendous force carried that Martial Artist with him, slamming through a thick stone wall with a bang,

Chen Ranfeng scrambled to his feet, dragging his broken hand and the other impaled by the Flying Saber, while the Martial Artist smashed beneath him was reduced to a pile of flesh.

That moment,

Everyone was stunned,

Nobody expected that the infamous Flame Mountain Sword Chen Ranfeng would be crippled by Gu Zhan in such a brief clash.

"Lord Gu, I admit defeat! As for Youyang City, my Lingxi Sword Sect will no longer interfere..."

Gu Zhan sneered coldly, reached out,

A buzzing rang out, and in a flash, a Horizontal Saber flew into Gu Zhan’s hand. He took a single step—appearing beside Chen Ranfeng,

Saber fell, head flew sideways.

Blood sprayed; Gu Zhan spoke coldly, "This official now believes the Lingxi Sword Sect is colluding with Mang Mountain Thieves and should be exterminated by annihilation!"