Martial Saint with Passives

...

In the deepest part of Wolf Fang Valley lay a massive, treacherous karst cave.

Jagged rocks littered the cave’s entrance, which was wreathed in black mist, resembling the gaping maw of a man-eating beast.

Jiang Che and Fang Muye hid behind a rock formation a hundred zhang away, observing from a distance.

Fang Muye frowned and said in a low voice, "Four are at the Late-stage Refining Organ Realm. And there’s one more... his aura is unfathomable. I’m afraid... he’s already at the late stage of Refining Spirit, approaching the True Master Realm!"

"Mm," Jiang Che nodded. "Can you handle holding off those four at the Late Stage of Refining Organ?"

Fang Muye glanced at him and said grimly, "I can hold them for a bit, but... twenty breaths at most!"

"That’s enough." A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Che’s eyes. "Leave the one inside... to me!"

"You..." Fang Muye looked at Jiang Che with a complicated expression.

Jiang Che said calmly, "Let’s go. We’ll make this quick."

Before his voice had even faded, he shot out from his hiding spot like an arrow loosed from a bow, heading straight for the cave entrance!

"...Crazy bastard!" Fang Muye cursed under his breath and hurried to follow.

His figure transformed into a streak of light, intercepting the four Demon Sect masters who had just rushed out of the cave.

"You’re courting death!"

Seeing this, the four Late-stage Refining Organ Realm masters from the Demon Sect flew into a rage, drawing their weapons and attacking Fang Muye!

Instantly, the clash of blades and bursts of Jin Qi filled the area outside the cave as the sounds of fierce combat erupted!

Fang Muye might have been proud and arrogant, but his strength was not to be underestimated.

He pushed the Liufeng Courtyard’s Body Technique to its absolute limit.

Under the siege of four opponents, he moved like a willow swaying in the wind. He seemed to be in constant peril, yet he always managed to narrowly avoid fatal attacks at the most critical moments.

At the same time, using his fingers as a sword, he delivered vicious strikes. He was actually holding his ground against four opponents, single-handedly pinning down the four Late-stage Refining Organ Realm masters!

However, his heart was heavy, and he was inwardly complaining nonstop.

’These four guys... their Cultivation Techniques are bizarre, and their teamwork is flawless. They’re far more difficult to deal with than the senior and junior brothers of the same rank back at the Sect!’

As he did his utmost to fend them off, his mind raced.

’That guy Jiang Che... is he actually reliable? The old monster inside has an aura that’s way stronger than mine; he’s probably not much weaker than Qin Wuya! I can only last twenty breaths at most! If he can’t take care of the one inside after twenty breaths, I’m getting the hell out of here! I can’t just throw my life away for him! Holding off these four lunatics for twenty breaths is already doing more than enough!’

However, just as he had counted to the tenth breath!

BOOOOOOM!!!

A terrifyingly loud explosion suddenly erupted from the deepest part of the cave behind him!

The violent shockwave of energy was so powerful it caused the entire cave to tremble violently, and countless bits of broken stone rained down from the ceiling!

"What’s happening?!"

Fang Muye was horrified, and his movements faltered for a fraction of a second!

The four Demon Sect masters besieging him also had their expressions change drastically. They simultaneously looked toward the depths of the cave, their eyes filled with shock and uncertainty.

At that moment, a figure clad in black martial attire slowly emerged from the dust-filled depths of the cave.

It was Jiang Che.

His face was slightly pale and his aura was a bit faint, as if he had expended a great deal of energy.

However, there were no visible injuries on his body.

And in his left hand, he held... a severed head, its eyes wide open in death!

The head belonged to a gaunt-faced man, his eyes bulging wide, his expression frozen in utter horror and disbelief!

It was the Demon Sect leader from before, the Half-Step True Master with the unfathomable aura!

Ten breaths!

Just ten breaths!

A Half-Step True Master who had already begun Refining Spirit... was killed by him... just like that?!

Fang Muye was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the floor!

He stared blankly at Jiang Che, at the blood-drenched head in his hand, his mind a complete void!

As for the four Demon Sect masters who had been attacking him, the moment they saw the head clearly, they were scared out of their wits, their souls nearly fleeing their bodies!

"Hall... Hall Master?!"

"Impossible! How could the Hall Master..."

How could they possibly have any will left to fight?

After exchanging a glance, they turned without hesitation and fled frantically in different directions!

"Trying to run?"

Jiang Che’s eyes turned icy as he watched the figures scatter and flee.

He took a Divine Crane Pill from his robes, tossed it into his mouth, and replenished the Strength he had just consumed by using the Twentyfold Azure Dragon Annihilation.

Then, with a flicker of his body, he and Fang Muye, who had reacted just as quickly, gave chase to kill them!

A few moments later, amidst a series of blood-curdling screams, all four Late-stage Refining Organ Realm masters from the Demon Sect were slain on the spot!

...

Outside the cave, the smell of blood filled the air.

Jiang Che calmly collected the spoils of war, stuffing various precious Elixir Pills, gold notes, Secret Manuals, and other items into his Poisonous Flood Dragon Bag.

Nearby, Fang Muye was panting heavily, his gaze fixed on Jiang Che, filled with an unprecedented mix of complexity and awe.

He was now... completely and utterly convinced of Jiang Che’s superiority.

After personally witnessing Jiang Che slay a Half-Step True Master with the force of a Thunderbolt in under ten breaths,

the last shred of pride in his heart had been completely crushed to dust.

’He’s just too strong...’

So strong that... it was a freakish level of power that snuffed out any thought of jealousy or even trying to catch up!

This was the strongest person of his own generation he had ever seen in his entire life!

He felt even more unfathomable than Qin Wuya!

He stood obediently to the side, not even daring to breathe too loudly, as he watched Jiang Che collect all the spoils.