A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 382 The Death of Sima Tian

On the mountain path of Zheyun Mountain, Ren Qianxing glanced at the seventeen people, snorted coldly, and then looked at Sima Tian opposite him. Although the Sea Shark Guards were elite, they were still not enough to stand out here.

"Ren Qianxing, do you think you have victory in your grasp? Make your move!"

At Sima Tian's command, a battle cry suddenly came from behind. Turning around, he saw that the White Tiger Hall members were already fighting with the Azure Dragon Hall members. However, to his surprise, some of the White Tiger Hall members had also sided with Sima Tian and were killing their comrades. In an instant, several people had died.

"What a clever scheme. It's not something you can do to infiltrate the White Tiger Hall without anyone noticing. It seems those old fogies also put in a lot of effort."

Ren Qianxing's expression remained unchanged, but he was furious inside. He had been somewhat careless. He had thought that his White Tiger Hall was an impenetrable fortress, but seeing the current situation was a slap in the face.

"The White Tiger Hall belongs to the Supreme Alliance, not just to you, Ren Qianxing. The elders acted this way with the Alliance Leader's permission. Ren Qianxing, do you think the Alliance Leader doesn't know this?" Sima Tian looked at Ren Qianxing with a playful expression.

"Your attempts to sow discord are useless against me, Sima Tian, ​​prepare to die!" Ren Qianxing shouted, pushed off the stirrups, and leaped into the air. A sword rang out, and the sword light flashed, heading straight for Sima Tian.

"Humph!"

Seeing this, Sima Tian snorted coldly, and his longsword hummed as it transformed into a streak of pure white light to meet the chilling sword light. In mid-air, two piercing beams of light flashed and then clashed together. In just a few breaths, Ren Qianxing had already exchanged blows with Sima Tian dozens of times, but in the end, Ren Qianxing was still a cut above the rest. His sword light flashed and moved back and forth, and he had already firmly suppressed Sima Tian's white sword light.

Just as Ren Qianxing and Sima Tian were exchanging blows for the first time, the seventeen Sea Shark Guards immediately joined the battle to besiege the White Tiger Hall.

Although the White Tiger Hall was caught off guard at the beginning, its overall combat strength ranked first among the four halls. After reacting, it did not take long to even the battle and even killed several traitors. However, at this moment, seventeen sword lights flew over. Three hall members were unable to react and were immediately killed. Four others were seriously injured and lost their combat power on the spot. In an instant, the battle situation changed drastically, and the White Tiger Hall was forced into a disadvantageous position by the three parties working together.

"Master Zhu, the White Tiger Hall is in dire straits. Should we intervene?"

Hidden in the shadows, Xue Jian, the Xuanwu Hall Master, whispered to Zhu Long, the Zhuque Hall Master beside him.

“The White Tiger Hall shouldn’t be suppressed so easily. The number of people on both sides is not much different. The fact that it is now at a disadvantage must be intentional on the part of Hall Master Ren.” Zhu Long looked at the battle situation and immediately noticed several highly suspicious points.

“Look at the direction of the carriage. The White Tiger Hall members guarding there hardly moved far. All the enemies who came to attack were killed. In addition, in the southeast and northwest, the White Tiger Hall seems to have spread a large net. Once it closes in, it will surely strike with lightning speed.”

Upon hearing Zhu Long's analysis, Xue Jian turned to look, and indeed, it was just as Zhu Long had said.

"Then let's just wait like this. If the White Tiger Hall suffers too many casualties, we won't be able to explain it to the Alliance Leader."

Xue Jian was still somewhat worried. He and Zhu Long had recently received a personal letter from the Alliance Leader, instructing them to follow Ren Qianxing and provide assistance when Sima Tian rebelled. The letter also emphasized that they must ensure Ren Qianxing's safety.

"Let's wait a moment. If the situation gets out of hand, Hall Master Xue can lead his men to provide support."

"how about you?"

"Without Hai Sha Palace making any further moves, Zhu's team cannot be mobilized."

"Alright."

At this moment, the White Tiger Hall members had formed a battle formation to continuously defend against attacks from three sides. Fortunately, with the loss of several Sea Shark Guards, the pressure on them was much less. However, even so, they were mostly on the defensive and their combat strength was constantly decreasing.

Just when they were about to give up, a barrage of hidden weapons suddenly shot out from the mountain path, the sound of them whistling through the air was deafening. The Sea Shark Guards, with their sharp ears and eyes, moved nimbly to dodge the hidden weapons, but the Azure Dragon Hall members and a small number of the traitorous White Tiger Hall members were not so lucky. They were unable to react in time and suffered heavy casualties in an instant. None of the traitorous White Tiger Hall members survived, and the Azure Dragon Hall members also lost more than half of their strength.

"Xuanwu Hall!"

A leader of the Azure Dragon Hall narrowed his eyes upon seeing the approaching group.

The Xuanwu Hall attacked with lightning speed. After the hidden weapons, a series of black crystal lights flew over. Upon seeing this, the leader of the Qinglong Hall's expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily, "Get out of the way! It's Heavenly One Divine Water!"

After speaking, the leader immediately dodged far away. Among the survivors of the Azure Dragon Hall, some knew about this object and fled in all directions. However, some people did not know how powerful this object was and tried to block it with their weapons. But when this object was struck, the crystal light shattered with a crack. A ball of pitch-black liquid splashed out from the broken porcelain shards and landed on people's bodies. After a series of screams, only a pool of blood, fragments of clothing that had not yet dissolved, and dented weapons remained on the spot.

"Heavenly Divine Water!"

Sima Tian, ​​who was fighting Ren Qianxing, was first shocked by the sudden appearance of Xuanwu Hall, and then terrified by the Heavenly Divine Water. His movements slowed down, and Ren Qianxing seized the opportunity, thrusting his longsword in succession. Three cold lights struck Sima Tian's left arm at the same time. The latter groaned, reacted, and swung his longsword, a streak of light slashing towards Ren Qianxing. At the same time, he stretched out his fingers to seal the acupoints on his left arm to stop the bleeding. He glanced ahead, and then ran straight into the depths of the mountain path without saying a word.

"Master Xue, I'll leave this to you. I'm going after Sima Tian." Ren Qianxing shouted to Xue Jian, then leaped away and chased after Sima Tian, ​​disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Upon hearing this, Xue Jian immediately instructed his subordinates to resolve the matter as quickly as possible, while he himself rushed to the vehicle chassis, as that was the most important area.

On the wagons transporting the Nine Dragon Stones, seven White Tiger Hall experts were fighting against seventeen Sea Shark guards. Although the individual strength of the White Tiger Hall members was not weak, they were outnumbered, and it was quite an achievement that they were still undefeated. "Seize the Nine Dragon Stones first."

The lead sea shark guard shouted, and then the seventeen men changed their attack, fighting two against one. The remaining three quickly climbed onto the vehicle and opened all the wooden boxes. However, the scene that appeared next made the three men's expressions change drastically. They saw that the wooden boxes were all filled with the same "Nine Dragon Stones", and there was no difference between them.

"It was a trap after all, let's retreat!"

The leading sea shark guard casually tossed aside the wooden box in his hand. Seeing Xue Jian and the others rushing towards him from not far away, he waved his hand and took the lead in running away. Seeing this, the others also retreated one after another, took out miasma pills from their pockets, and threw them behind them. With a bang, they exploded, and clumps of miasma spread out, forming a fog so thick that one could not see their own hand in front of their face in the blink of an eye. However, this fog, which should have lasted for several breaths before dissipating, was instantly dissolved.

Xue Jian retrieved the gourd from his hand, and with a flash, he swiftly rushed towards the sea shark guard. The leading sea shark guard was initially surprised that the miasma had been broken, and then, seeing Xue Jian chasing after him alone, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly. If there were a few more people, he would have left without hesitation, but with only one person...

"Xue Jian, the master of Xuanwu Hall, is quite a figure. Taking his head will make the trip worthwhile."

The lead shark guard paused, and the remaining ten men beside him stopped at the same time.

"kill him!"

At a command, ten men simultaneously charged towards Xue Jian. The latter, seeing the swords and shadows approaching from outside the hall, remained unmoved. He channeled his true energy, and a layer of earthen-yellow energy shield appeared around him. When the swords and shadows struck it, the energy shield only trembled slightly, then returned to normal after a few ripples. Just then, a sword light pierced through the air and slashed down, shattering the earthen-yellow energy shield. Xue Jian, who was inside the energy shield, was also engulfed in the sword light.

The leading shark guard was incredulous at Xue Jian's easy slaying. Xue Jian was one of the four hall masters; how could he be so easily defeated? Thinking this, the guard's expression changed slightly, and he realized something was wrong. Just as he was about to warn them, dozens of black beams flew towards them, exploding in mid-air. Dozens of drops of Heavenly Divine Water shot out, striking the ten men squarely. Their screams of agony continued, and the leading guard tried to flee, but then... A circular weapon shot through the air, and he hurriedly swung his sword to block it. However, upon colliding with the weapon, he felt a powerful force surge through his meridians, causing him to groan a few times and his face to turn pale instantly. Before he could rest, the circular weapon spun around again, attacking relentlessly from all directions. The leading sea shark guard was exhausted and overwhelmed. In just ten breaths, after a scream, the circular weapon cleanly and decisively severed the head of the leading sea shark guard, spinning it and landing steadily in Xue Jian's hand.

"The Sea Shark Guardians are nothing special."

On the path through Zheyun Mountain, Ren Qianxing chased after Sima Tian for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. The latter felt the voice behind him getting closer and closer, and was terrified. Just then, he suddenly heard a twitch in his ear. Sima Tian smiled, slowed down, stopped, turned around, and looked at Ren Qianxing who was rushing towards him with his sword.

"What, you know you can't escape, so you want to fight me to the death?" Ren Qianxing walked slowly and calmly toward Sima Tian, ​​the long sword in his hand humming, and a murderous aura made Sima Tian shudder.

"Ha, you still dare to spout nonsense even when you're about to die. I'm no match for you, but what about this one?"

Sima Tian sneered, shifted his body, and revealed the figure behind him. Ren Qianxing stared intently, his pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He saw a middle-aged man dressed in a wave-patterned robe with a fierce face, who was none other than Helian Ba, the master of the Sea Shark Palace.

"So it was the Palace Master of the Sea Shark Palace who came in person. No wonder Sima Tian was so confident."

When Ren Qianxing saw Helian Ba, although he was wary, he didn't care much. This was a fight between juniors. If seniors interfered, they would be breaking a taboo in the martial arts world. If the matter was verified, the Sea Shark Palace would lose the support of the people.

"As expected of the White Tiger Hall Master, you are indeed radiant and have aroused my interest in talent. Hall Master Ren, if you can hand over the Nine Dragon Stone, I will spare your life. Otherwise, you will lose your martial arts skills."

Although Helian Ba ​​dared not kill Guan Yutian's only disciple, crippling him was still within his tolerance.

"Senior, is it an attempt to bully the weak? I am unworthy, but I would like to ask you for a few pointers." As soon as Ren Qianxing finished speaking, his long sword flashed with white light, and a dazzling sword light, like the sun shining down, dispelled the darkness. The mountain path was suddenly illuminated. Sima Tian closed his eyes upon seeing this, while Helian Ba ​​retreated quickly, pulling Sima Tian along with him as he went.

With a few hissing sounds, sword energy pierced the air, and Helian Ba's expression became solemn. Ren Qianxing's Chasing Light Sword was indeed extraordinary. According to him, without a certain amount of internal energy support, it would be difficult to unleash the full power of the Chasing Light Sword. It seems that Guan Yutian had used the Nine Dragon Stones to help Ren Qianxing cultivate his internal energy.

"Very well, exchanging you for the Nine Dragon Stone should give us a better chance." Helian Ba's eyes flashed slightly. After instructing Sima Tian, ​​his figure transformed into several phantoms, attacking Ren Qianxing from all four sides. His distraction palm strikes were insidious and vicious. Before they even reached him, Ren Qianxing sensed them. He turned his sword, and four sword lights flashed and intersected, piercing the four phantoms one after the other. They were easily shattered with a single twist.

"Helian Ba's skill shouldn't be this bad. Could it be?" Ren Qianxing shattered the four illusions with a single sword strike. Instead of being pleased, he became wary. Someone who could rival his master wouldn't be so weak. Either it was intentional, or this person wasn't the real one.

Given the current situation, if Helian Ba ​​were truly here, there would be no need for such charades; he could simply defeat me with direct force. Therefore, the latter possibility seems to be the only one.

Thinking of this, Ren Qianxing's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He spun his longsword, and before the sword light danced, it wove into a sword net. He then flicked it and thrust it directly at Helian Ba. The latter was caught off guard by the sharp aura. He was a substitute for Helian Ba, and his martial arts were passable, but he was still far inferior to Ren Qianxing.

Originally, the plan was to use the clone to scare the opponent, and then join forces with Sima Tian and the others to kill them. However, Sima Tian seemed to be watching the show, and the reinforcements that should have appeared were nowhere to be seen. Something must have happened.

"Sima Tian, ​​if you don't act now, when will you? If I capture Ren Qianxing, all of this will be none of your business."

Helian Ba ​​unleashed a devastating palm strike, shattering the net of swords aimed at him. With a calm expression, he called out to Sima Tian behind him. Upon hearing this, Sima Tian's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment of contemplation, Sima Tian moved swiftly, wielding his sword and charging forward. With a Wind and Thunder Palm in one hand and a Soul-Severing Blade in the other, he combined his strength with overwhelming power, which greatly enhanced his momentum. Helian Ba ​​immediately felt the pressure around him ease. After catching his breath and swallowing a few pills, he created several phantoms that circled around Ren Qianxing, continuously striking him with their palms. Although it was their first time cooperating, their movements were incredibly smooth. In just a short while, they had already suppressed Ren Qianxing's aura.

"It really was a fake."

Ren Qianxing stared coldly at the two men, his sword flashing faster and faster, weaving an impenetrable net of blades in front of him to block their repeated attacks. After slicing through another phantom with a single strike, Ren Qianxing was struck on the shoulder by Helian Ba's distraction palm, staggering and nearly falling. Just as he was about to fall, Sima Tian was overjoyed and unleashed a full-force attack with both palm and blade, intending to kill Ren Qianxing. However, just as his two strikes were about to hit Ren Qianxing, the latter smiled coldly at Sima Tian, ​​his figure blurring as his two strikes landed on empty air. Sima Tian knew he was in trouble, a chill running down his spine. He couldn't recover his strength in time, and a sword light swept out, blood flashing. Sima Tian died instantly without uttering a sound, his body falling to the ground, his head rolling at Ren Qianxing's feet.

(End of this chapter)