Daqian Martial Saint

On either side of the official road, sparse trees swayed in the gentle breeze, their shadows dancing like a flowing scroll painting. A lone rider on a fine horse galloped down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust with every hoofbeat.

The rider was dressed in tight-fitting black clothes, his bamboo hat fluttering in the wind, vaguely revealing a cold, stern face. He gripped the reins with one hand, a fire of rage burning in his heart.

This man was none other than the disciple of the Seven Extremes Elder, Soul-breaking Saber Li Pingjiang!

"Chen Ping’an, you rat!"

Beyond his anger, Li Pingjiang also felt an immense sense of frustration.

Killing a junior who had yet to even step into the Profound Light Realm should have been a simple matter. He never imagined that after several months, he still hadn’t even managed to catch a glimpse of Chen Ping’an!

He had rushed a thousand li from Earth Fire County to the Five Peaks Mountain Residence, only to hear that Chen Ping’an had already left for White Stone City!

By the time he galloped nonstop to White Stone City, he found he was a step too late again. Chen Ping’an had already departed, heading for Weishui County City.

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to simply return to the Five Peaks Mountain Residence and wait for Chen Ping’an’s return.

As an Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, Chen Ping’an’s duties were there; he had to come back eventually. And when he did, it would be his time to die!

His wait stretched for over half a month. Then, news arrived. He had indeed waited for Chen Ping’an’s return, but his target hadn’t come back to the Five Peaks Mountain Residence. Instead, he had gone to Five Peaks Mountain City!

Enough was enough.

The successive failures had drained Li Pingjiang of all his patience. Due to the repeated delays, rumors were already spreading that this rookie junior, who hadn’t even entered the Profound Light Realm, somehow possessed the combat strength of the Profound Light Middle Realm.

Therefore, he made a snap decision to go to Five Peaks Mountain City himself and kill Chen Ping’an directly with an iron fist! He would do it no matter the cost!

But...

His trip was, yet again, in vain! A later investigation revealed that because of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect caravan massacre, Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy Chen Ping’an had left Five Peaks Mountain City overnight to handle the matter!

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Recalling these past events, rage surged in Li Pingjiang’s heart. He had made a name for himself in Earth Fire County over many years. When had he ever been so humiliated?

Time and time again, he had come up empty! It was as if his every move was being led by the nose!

’Remember. Never be careless! Even if your opponent’s cultivation is far beneath yours, you must be one hundred percent cautious, find the right moment, and kill in a single strike!’

The teachings of his master, the Seven Extremes Elder, surfaced in his mind, and a determined glint flashed in Li Pingjiang’s eyes.

’I can’t delay any longer!’

’I have to kill Chen Ping’an as soon as possible, no matter what!’

Li Pingjiang spurred his horse to its absolute limit. He had to reach the Red Maple Mountain area as fast as possible, find Chen Ping’an, and put him down!

TOC, TOC...

A burst of rapid hoofbeats echoed from the road in the distance.

Hm?

The Profound Light at the center of Li Pingjiang’s brow flickered faintly. His eyes suddenly lit up, his gaze like lightning as it pierced the darkness to look into the distance.

On the road ahead, a swift horse was galloping toward him. The rider sat tall and straight, with a heroic and extraordinary bearing.

The moment he saw the rider’s face clearly, a brilliant light erupted in Li Pingjiang’s eyes.

"Chen Ping’an!"

A cruel smile appeared on Li Pingjiang’s cold, stern face.

’To wear out my iron shoes in a fruitless search, only to find him without lifting a finger!’

Who would have thought that after coming up empty time and time again, they would run into each other right here, right now!

A dark and windy night, with no one else around!

’Chen Ping’an, it must be your fate to die! Tonight, you won’t escape with your life!’

Amidst a flurry of urgent, dense hoofbeats, the two riders rapidly closed in on each other.

Li Pingjiang’s True Qi surged around him, the Profound Light on his brow flashing repeatedly. The instant his saber left its sheath, he stomped down hard and shot into the sky.

The immense force made the fine horse beneath him let out a sorrowful whinny.

"Chen Ping’an, die!"

Li Pingjiang’s figure soared through the air, streaking toward Chen Ping’an. In midair, his saber flashed, an eerie light flowing along the blade, imbued with a heart-stopping power.

Divine Skill Soul-breaking Blade: Soul-breaking Slash!

This was Li Pingjiang’s ultimate strike, holding nothing back.

’Never be hesitant. Find the right moment and kill in a single strike!’

Heeding the teachings of his master, the Seven Extremes Elder, he deeply understood the principle that even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit.

SWOOSH!

The saber’s light descended like a full moon, pouring down from above.

As he unleashed this slash, Li Pingjiang could already envision Chen Ping’an’s end. Though his opponent was famous, he was still young. He was at a natural disadvantage when facing a true, seasoned master.

Even an Absolute Master would have to take this slash of his seriously. What chance did Chen Ping’an have!?

"Die!" Li Pingjiang’s face was cold, a vicious glint in his eyes.

As the saber’s light swirled, he saw his opponent swing out a palm, intending to meet the blow head-on with his bare hand.

A faint yellow halo swirled around the palm, manifesting the Vajra’s Intent.

The Great Vajra Palm!

Li Pingjiang knew the intelligence reports on Chen Ping’an by heart and recognized the Palm Technique in an instant.

’I thought he would counter with a saber!? I didn’t expect him to use the Great Vajra Palm.’

’The Great Vajra Palm, a top-level superior cultivation method! Its Palm Power is fierce and unyielding, perfect for direct confrontations!’

’Logically, there’s nothing wrong with him using this palm to meet my attack head-on, but...’

’He has completely misjudged the power of my saber. My Soul-Severing Saber is inherited from a Divine Skill, and my Martial Arts Realm has long been polished to Profound Light Middle Realm Perfection. I have him completely crushed.’

’On top of that, I’ve used a Secret Technique in this slash. With so many advantages stacked against him, the only outcome for Chen Ping’an is instant death! Even if he’s incredibly lucky, he won’t escape without grievous injuries.’