Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 167 A Master of the Sword, Ruthless in Destroying Flowers
In the southeast of the county seat, there was a poor area covering five miles, filled with low, flat-roofed houses and thatched huts. Located within the county seat, its streets were narrow and dilapidated, and the houses were low and old, which was a disgrace to Dongjun.

This is the poorest place in Donghae County, but also the busiest.

Of course, it is also the most chaotic place with the most hidden talents and misfits.

But the more chaotic the place, the more numerous gangs, large and small, with dozens or even hundreds of members, fighting fiercely and bloodily, all for a few taels of silver.

Although the area was small, the intensity of the fighting was by no means low.

It truly lives up to the saying, "A small temple has a lot of evil spirits, and a shallow pond has many turtles."

The Night Wolf Gang was originally a small gang that rose to prominence among the fishing households in Dongjun. Known for its ruthlessness, viciousness, and willingness to fight, the territory it occupied consisted of only a few dozen fishing boats in a corner of the city gate.

But since the Dongyi fleet landed in Haicheng six months ago, Ito Yukihara's reputation has soared, and these previously inconspicuous small gangs in the coastal cities have grown rapidly. So much so that no one knows how many Dongyi ronin swordsmen are hidden in each gang.

The Night Wolf Gang transformed itself and changed its name to [Moon Shadow Hall].

From a small gang of a mere hundred or so people, it has transformed into a large organization with seven or eight hundred members.

The newly built temple occupies 28 acres, with a rugged and imposing structure. Two blood-jade lions stand in front of the gate, and a sword flag stands upright, exuding a solemn and menacing aura.

The hall is filled with masters, almost rivaling the Mingxin Hall, which has dominated Dongjun for twenty years.

In a recent major battle, they even gained a slight advantage.

In the struggle for control of the docks, the two sides fought fiercely, eventually killing Cheng Lin and Wen Yuan, the top martial arts masters of Dongjun and the leader of Mingxin Hall.

From then on, [Moon Shadow Hall] became even more arrogant and its influence grew significantly.

Its leader, Chen Guangyuan, is even known as the "Heavenly Wolf Blade".

His reputation was even greater than Cheng Lin's back then. He was known as "Night Wolf Devouring Tiger, Blade That Never Dies." The disciples of Moon Shadow Hall generally referred to their leader as "The Unparalleled Blade."

It is used to describe someone who can draw their knife so quickly and fiercely that they can kill without needing to use two strikes.

Heroes emerge in times of chaos.

Chen Guangyuan's rapid rise to power is just one example; it is happening not only in Dongjun but also in other cities.

Some people find this situation strange, while others take it for granted.

To a discerning person, this is actually a grand strategy.

Perhaps someone is making moves casually, or perhaps they have a specific purpose in trying to control certain important locations.

But regardless of whether they could see it or not, the Haizhou aristocratic families and powerful clans all pretended not to understand.

Instead of paying attention, they took advantage of the chaos to seize land and people, making themselves stronger.

They weren't fools, after all. If neither the Southeast Garrison nor the Imperial Pacification Commission cared, who would be so idle as to rush to the front and become the first to stick their neck out?

Aren't you afraid of dying without a proper burial?

Almost no one paid any attention to the chaotic situation.

But no, and nobody paid any attention.

Tonight, the usually quiet and locked Moon Shadow Hall was filled with the long-absent sounds of battle.

Bloodshed was seen on all sides.

Everywhere there were cries of agony and screams.

One moment it was calm and peaceful, the next it was a raging storm.

The entire southern city was alarmed.

A crescent moon hung high in the sky, and torches, like long dragons, suddenly burst into the Moon Shadow Hall from the four directions: east, west, south, and north.

The sword reflected the moonlight and splattered blood. The figures moved and surrounded the area from all sides. In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had already reached the central square.

The towering walls and continuous buildings of Moon Shadow Hall, beneath the feet of those swordsmen who roamed high and low, resembled a vast, flat plain.

"Since ancient times, in warfare, the strategy has always been to surround three sides and leave one side open, thus ensuring an easy victory. Is the person in charge of this strategy out of their mind?"

Several small societies in the distance, with some quite strong members, heard the commotion and immediately jumped over their own courtyard walls, weapons in hand, to watch from the sidelines.

They were terrified that someone would come and kill them in their home.

Some people were puzzled, feeling both glee and disappointment at the attack on [Moon Shadow Hall].

Such a coordinated attack from all sides is nothing more than forcing the enemy into a desperate battle, making them even more ferocious. Even if they kill a thousand enemies, they will also suffer eight hundred casualties themselves.

"Brother Wang, have you been diving too much these days and hurt your eyes? Hehe, you just didn't understand. Take a closer look at the attackers' swordsmanship and their clothes, and you'll understand."

"Hey, Brother Gu is right, I understand now, they're going to wipe them out completely. No wonder they're surrounding them from all sides, they're afraid even one person will escape."

Other forces would never act this way, but since it's Miss Cheng from Mingxin Hall leading the team, it makes perfect sense.

Not long ago, the couple in charge of Mingxintang died at the same time, and everyone in the city knew that Mingxintang had been secretly taken over by the Zhu family.

Moreover, they all knew that Cheng Liangyu, the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, had broken through the encirclement and gone to Mingyang Tianxing Peak to seek help.

Everyone is waiting for another good show to unfold.

He thought to himself that things might not be peaceful in Dongjun in the future.

What followed was a period of bitter hardship and bloodshed.

They guessed right, and they guessed wrong.

There were indeed many battles and bloodshed, but not necessarily bitter winds and rain.

Three days ago, the Southern Sword displayed its power within the Mingxin Hall, wiping out the entire Zhu family army.

Three days later, everyone was waiting for the second young master of the Zhu family to lead hundreds of his family's strongest fighters to continue their desperate battle against the remaining forces of Mingxin Hall. Unexpectedly, the people of Mingxin Hall had already taken advantage of the night to attack [Moon Shadow Hall].

Judging by this, it's practically a massacre.

Where do they get such confidence?

Aren't you afraid that the Zhu family will reap the benefits from this situation?
"How powerful is the Southern Sword Sect! How formidable is the Heavenly Star Sect! They launched attacks on two locations in one night, achieving swift victory in a single night. Are they going to settle the East Sea overnight?"

Suddenly, someone clapped their hands in praise.

"Brother Su, what makes you say that?"

As the crowd gathered, they cautiously kept their distance from others while moving closer together. Looking at the large number of corpses lying in the Moon Shadow Hall, they felt a chill in their hearts and were already thinking about whether they should leave the South City first and hide for a while.
"Don't panic. Mingxintang is very measured in its actions. We have no grudges or resentments against them, so they will never take their anger out on us."

Previously, my brother-in-law, because of his strength, always wanted to make a name for himself. Thinking that the Zhu family was wealthy and powerful, he tried every means to get in touch with a small manager and become a small leader at the dock, leading the laborers.

This was originally a good thing; if they had performed well, they might have actually been able to find a way out for themselves. But guess what happened?

The middle-aged man surnamed Su had a slightly trembling goatee and his teeth were chattering a bit.

Before anyone could ask, he added, "He just ran back looking terrified. He collapsed from exhaustion after saying only a few words."

It is said that all three hundred members of the Zhu family, including the second young master Zhu and the third master Lin, died tragically.

Dozens of top-tier experts from the Tianxing Sect launched a surprise attack, and even the thousands of soldiers from the Jinghai Division were routed. Fewer than a hundred people escaped and scattered everywhere.

He was almost trampled to death by the packhorses...

Fortunately, the swordsmen of the Heavenly Star Sect didn't hold a grudge against these laborers; they simply let them leave. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to return tonight.

"Is this serious?"

"Of course it's true. My brother-in-law is still at home. He ran too fast and injured his lungs and internal organs. He will need to rest for a few days to recover."

"A wise man avoids dangerous situations; let's keep our distance. These swordsmen are all highly skilled; they might be the killers we're talking about. We absolutely mustn't provoke them..."

"Back off, back off quickly. It's not safe here."

As they were talking, in the distance, in front of the Moon Shadow Hall, a man roared and leaped onto the wall in the torchlight, trying to break out.

He was tall and muscular, wielding a large, ghost-headed sword with such force that it was impossible for the wind to get close.

Just as he leaped into the air, a blue shadow flashed past him, a streak of light streaking by.

The burly, dark figure was still in mid-air when the roar abruptly stopped.

It was as if a floodgate had been opened at his throat, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

With a soft thud, it fell to the ground below the wall and remained motionless.

In a flash of green, he took a step that covered three zhang and intercepted another man who was bare-chested and wielding two spears.

They exchanged two sword strikes, both resulting in immediate deaths.

"Is that the Black Fiend Blade?"

Everyone exclaimed in unison.

Another person said, "Black Fiend Blade couldn't even block one move, and the Twin Serpent Generals died after three sword strikes. This person, this person... there seem to be many who are faster than him?"

Everyone watched from the shadows, except for the brightly lit Moon Shadow Hall, where everything was clearly visible.

Those renowned masters who would normally bow and scrape before you, daring not to offend you, died like lackeys.

They were utterly defeated by those extremely young swordsmen, leaving them with no chance to retaliate.

They went up, died... rushed out again, and died again.

It was as if they were unarmed civilians facing a sword, with no chance to struggle whatsoever.

"Where is Chen Guangyuan, the Unparalleled Blade? With such great skill, he can't possibly die in tonight's battle, can he?"

Someone exclaimed in alarm.

“Look, isn’t that…”

At the main entrance of Moon Shadow Hall, a burly man with a square face and long beard, standing nine feet tall, brandished a long sword and roared like a wolf or tiger, smashing down the entire side wall of the gate with a loud bang.

Amidst the swirling dust, they had reached a dead end.

His opponent was a tall, slender young woman with crescent-shaped eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and a delicate nose, dressed in purple robes like mist.

Its forward momentum was fierce and unstoppable.

With just two horizontal sword strikes, Chen Zhongyuan's longsword was broken in half, and several long, slanted gashes appeared on his chest.

His knife is swift, yet he can kill without needing two strikes.

It seems like it wouldn't take more than two or three blows to kill him.

"It's Cheng Liangyu. She's so strong that she's more than one level stronger than her parents."

Everyone knows that Chen Guangyuan once fought Cheng Lin for over a hundred moves and escaped unscathed.

It was precisely these experts who were able to establish such a great reputation in Dongjun and grow the Night Wolf Gang into the Moon Shadow Hall, which almost replaced the Mingxin Hall as the largest gang in Dongjun.

However, this top expert from Dongjun seems to have little power to fight back against Cheng Liangyu's sword.

He was left with no choice but to take the beating. "You forced me to do this!"

After three exchanges, Chen Guangyuan felt completely constrained by Cheng Liangyu's lightning-fast and powerful sword strikes.

Not only was his sword broken, but he also suffered two wounds.

He was furious and thought that if he hadn't been so powerful and hadn't learned the Water-Severing Force to block sword energy, he would probably be dead by now.

He had intended to save some strength to set a trap and kill Cheng Liangyu... but he discovered that although the other party was full of murderous intent, he had held back three-tenths of his strength and had not used his ultimate move.

The sword techniques were continuous and relentless, like a cat playing with a mouse.

If this fight continues, they'll probably be completely trapped and killed in just a few moves.

Then, there was no way to escape.

As for that Lord Qiu, he didn't know if the other party would make a move, or when he would make a move.
At this critical juncture of life and death.

Relying on others is unreliable; you can only fight to the death.

Thinking of this.

Instead of charging forward, Chen Guangyuan retreated diagonally backward, as if stepping on ice, and flashed back three or four zhang.

The broken half of the long sword was tucked into his waist, and his arms were held in front of his chest, as if he had lost the will to resist.

Drawn by the energy, Cheng Liangyu's sword shone brightly, unleashing a sword curtain with the move "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies," slashing towards him.

"It's the perfect time."

Upon seeing the move "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies," Chen Guangyuan's eyes suddenly lit up, and his entire body instantly turned blood red.

With a loud shout, he not only stopped retreating, but his body swayed like a willow branch, bending in the wind and bouncing back.

The broken sword in his hand suddenly transformed into crystalline threads of light, shattering the air with a deafening boom...

The light and shadow before him were cleaved in two, and the void rumbled like waves, splitting open a long white line.

Gathering vital energy and blood into a single strike.

Braving the wind and waves, invincible.

This is the true "Unparalleled Blade".

Although Chen Guangyuan knew that his body would be weak for a short period of time after he made this cut.

But he knew even more that he was by no means alone and helpless.

Those adults, who have put in so much effort to help me build such a large temple, will not just stand by and watch it be destroyed.

There are reasons why we haven't taken action at this time.

Perhaps they are waiting for an opportunity...

He had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

Cheng Liangyu's [Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies] attack was only halfway through when an extremely strong and resilient surge of energy appeared in front of the sword's edge, a sharp aura locking onto his brow.

"Compete with me in speed."

If I had encountered this blade when I first joined the Tianxing Sect, I would have been doomed.

However, after strengthening his muscles and bones and enhancing his qi and blood, Cheng Liangyu now possesses a force of over a thousand jin with each swing of his arm, and has even mastered the ultimate killing technique, the "Flowing Light Sword Style".

In terms of sword speed, she was confident that, apart from the young sect leader whose abilities were completely unpredictable, she feared no one.

Although her opponent's knife strike was swift, it still seemed three points too slow in her eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Cheng Liangyu also suddenly exerted his strength.

His arms, as white as frost and snow, had prominent blue veins...

A streak of light shot out from his palm, and with a whoosh, it struck Chen Guangyuan's wrist first.

The blade flashed like a thread, striking right before her eyes, before its power dissipated completely.

Falling down.

Along with the broken sword, a bright orange wrist, as tough as bronze, also fell downwards.

No matter how fast or powerful a knife technique is, it always involves using the arm to move the wrist and the wrist to move the fingers.

Once a sword is pierced through the wrist and severed by its blade, no matter how powerful the strike was, it is useless.

"help me."

Chen Guangyuan let out a painful howl and staggered backward.

This time, it was no longer a ploy to lure the enemy, but rather a moment of panic and despair in his eyes.

He was really scared.

To my utter surprise, this delicate, pampered opponent, who seemed like a young lady, had been so fierce and unstoppable with her sword strikes earlier. I thought she had used up all her trump cards, but it turns out she still had half of her true strength hidden.

As she went all out, she simultaneously unleashed a deadly attack, a swift sword strike so fast it was almost invisible to the naked eye.

To be honest, he didn't understand at all how the wrist was severed.

The sword light flickered and disappeared into the wind, as fast as a ray of light.

His throat stung, and in his fear, he had no choice but to call out for help.

"waste."

I heard a muffled, angry groan.

Chen Guangyuan felt a chill all over his body, and countless frost flowers appeared in all directions.

The steps of the houses, the stone lions, and the banners were all submerged in the snow-white snow.

Even his eyebrows and severed wrist showed traces of frost...

A chill ran through me.

Chen Guangyuan's heart was burning with passion.

He knew his life was saved.

ding ding ding...

Three sparks suddenly burst forth around Cheng Liangyu's body.

That was the clash of swords.

Although she couldn't see where the person was, Cheng Liangyu reacted the instant she was attacked.

The attack was executed in one fluid motion, the speed of the sword was indescribable, as if seven or eight arms had grown out in front of him.

The sword tip flashed, like a shower of shooting stars.

Immediately afterwards, she collided with him.

call……

It shot straight up to a distance of seven or eight zhang.

Chen Guangyuan, who was behind him, had just breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed his eyebrows when his head was severed from his neck and flew off, blood splattering everywhere.

Before Cheng Liangyu could exhale, the sword energy in front of him had completely turned blood red.

"Flowing Light, Blood Sword Style".

This is Cheng Liangyu's desperate tactic.

Ding!
A sword pierced through the void.

I forced back an indistinct shadow, and suddenly felt a chill behind me.

This time, she seemed unable to react.

However, she showed no worry on her face; instead, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"what……"

Then I heard a sharp, agonizing scream.

Cheng Liangyu slowly turned around and saw the interplay of light and shadow on the ground, with dozens of leaves being swept up by the wind, vaguely forming human shapes.

A slender, graceful arm emerged from the void, falling to the ground with a muffled thud as a leaf fell.

"Lu Wubing, how can you, the young master of the Tianxing Sect, act so sneakily and attack people? You are not a hero!"

On the high wall in the distance, a woman appeared, dressed in a white dress, with her hair tied in a high bun, as beautiful as a plum blossom in frost and snow.

As the night breeze blew, the woman's long dress fluttered, her eyes were gentle, and her severed arm made her appear even more pitiful and endearing.

About ten feet in front of her, the air rippled, and a shadow suddenly rose up, revealing a young man in a blue dress and white collar.

The young man held a long sword, blood flowing from its blade, and smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly: "When did I ever say I was some kind of hero? You're allowed to hide and ambush, but I'm not allowed to do the same. Girl, aren't you being a bit too domineering?"

Although Lu Wubing laughed heartily, his killing intent was at its peak.

He knew that these so-called Autumn Frost and Red Leaf Mist Hidden Sect masters were most skilled at taking someone else's life and using objects to take on different forms.

Hidden in the shadows, even if someone senses you and hits you, it's difficult to kill them with a single blow.

But after Lu Wubing studied the copy of the molded image, and then studied the shadow character in the stolen bead, he discovered a very strange phenomenon.

As long as it's not a one-hit kill.

If you injure one of their arms first, you won't trigger the substitution.

The most crucial thing is that the other party has to take the initiative to attack.

Otherwise, by remaining hidden and concealed, even one would not be able to find where the other party is hiding.

Moreover, not only was the woman well hidden, but he also sensed an extremely strong aura of danger lurking nearby.

It's not invisible, but it's even better than being invisible.

That sharp, cutting intent is deeply ingrained in the mind and is extremely difficult to ignore.

"Which master of the sword is it? Since you're here, there's no need to hide. Let's face each other and settle our differences, even to the death. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Lu Wubing's smile faded, and he said coldly.

……

(End of this chapter)