Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

The man in black stood at the alley entrance, like an iron stake driven into the night.

Yi Yang's sword hung at his side, its tip still dripping blood. Five corpses separated the two men, the stench of blood thick and nauseating. Yet, the man in black stepped into the pool of blood, not a speck of dirt splashing onto the soles of his boots.

He has excellent lightness skills.

Yi Yang's inner energy spread out silently, and the moment he probed forward, his heart sank.

The opponent's aura was deep and restrained, his Qi Sea was open, and there were traces of clear Qi flowing through his meridians.

Inner Qi Realm.

The first stage: the initial formation of the Qi Sea.

Same level as yourself.

How many big fish were buried in Yunlin County tonight?

The man in black did not draw his weapon, but merely raised his right hand, gesturing for Yi Yang to make way, and commanded in a hoarse voice:

"Get out of the way."

The two words were crisp and concise, without any further explanation. Clearly, the other party did not consider Yi Yang, who was dressed as a candidate for chief steward, to be worthy of their serious attention, and the tone was directly commanding.

Upon hearing the other person's words, Yi Yang stared at them for a couple of moments without asking why or who they were.

He simply stepped aside, making way for the other person to pass through the narrow passage in the middle of the alley.

Seeing that Yi Yang was very sensible, the man in black stepped forward.

His steps were unhurried, yet each step was extremely steady. His qi and blood circulated silently as he raised his guard. He clearly looked down on Yi Yang, but a trace of vigilance still arose. When he passed by Wang Gongqin's corpse, he didn't even glance at it. She was just a sixth-level qi and blood cultivator.

When he took three steps to Yi Yang's side, the two were almost side by side. Only then did the man in black glance at Yi Yang again, as if to remember his appearance.

Just as the man in black passed by him, Yi Yang made a move.

Without any warning or pause to gather strength, the sword was raised from below, the third move of the Nine Peaks Sword, Sharp Peak, the tip of the blade aimed straight for the opponent's ribs.

However, the man in black reacted incredibly quickly, proving his strength was worthy of someone at the Inner Qi Realm.

The moment Yi Yang's blade flashed out, the man's right arm was already at his side, his palm hard against the back of the blade, his inner energy bursting out from his palm and colliding with Yi Yang's blade momentum.

hum!

The clang of metal against metal, accompanied by the muffled sound of colliding energy, caused both men to take a half-step back simultaneously.

The shockwave knocked off the walls on both sides of the alley, sending debris flying down in a flurry.

After the man in black regained his footing, the look in his eyes beneath the black cloth changed, and he said in a shocked tone:

"Internal Qi Realm?"

The surprise in her voice was barely concealed, but Yi Yang heard it clearly.

The other party hadn't expected that an old prison guard covered in blood would be on the same level as them.

Yi Yang didn't give him time to process it.

He stepped across the river, his body moving sideways along the wall, his sword flipping as it slashed down with a powerful downward strike.

This strike was infused with thirty percent of his internal energy, and its force was so heavy that it even cleaved a white streak in the air.

Seeing the blade coming, the man in black crossed his hands, palms facing outwards, and a powerful internal energy condensed into an arc above his head to block the attack. He was clearly going to take the blow head-on.

boom!

As their blades clashed, the man in black left two deep gashes on the stone slab with his feet, white smoke rising from the soles of his boots. He withstood Yi Yang's attack, which caused the muscles in his arms to tremble, making him appear to be in considerable pain.

The man in black cursed inwardly, "Why is this old bastard's knife so heavy!"

Realizing that Yi Yang was a tough opponent, the man in black stopped trying to take the attack head-on. Instead, he lowered his body and swept his legs horizontally along the ground, his legs twisting out like scissors. At the same time, he flicked three hidden weapons out of his sleeve with his right hand.

Hidden weapons travel the upper path, while leg sweeps travel the lower path.

At that moment, Yi Yang sensed something was amiss. Although the three hidden weapons appeared to be flying towards his chest, the trajectory of one of them was extremely strange. The hidden weapon was wrapped in internal energy, and it would change direction as it approached his body, aiming directly for his throat, a vital point.

This is a killer move.

The real killing move hidden in the concealed weapon.

Sensing danger, Yi Yang's five senses were fully activated by his internal energy, and the trajectory of the hidden weapon was as clear in his mind as a drawn line.

Crossing the river by skimming the water!

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his whole body rose a foot into the air. Three hidden weapons swept past him. The one that changed direction grazed his trouser leg and flew far away, embedding itself in the wall with a piercing buzz.

At the same time, Yi Yang's right-hand sword slashed out horizontally.

With a burst of internal energy, a visible blade of energy swept across three feet and struck the black-clad man's right shoulder, who was unable to retract his attack in time.

puff.

The blade struck, tearing the fabric and sending a spray of blood erupting from the man in black's shoulder.

After being injured, the man in black groaned and staggered back three steps. The black cloth on his right shoulder was torn open by the blade's energy, revealing the flesh inside.

But he managed to keep his balance and didn't fall down, thus avoiding giving himself away.

But Yi Yang's knife caused his right arm to hang down, making it obviously unable to exert any force. However, his left hand was still clenched into a fist, his internal energy surging and filling his whole body with internal energy.

"To be able to maintain his breathing after suffering such an injury, this person has a very solid foundation and is not simple in strength," Yi Yang thought to himself as he looked at the other person.

After recovering from his injuries, the man in black raised his head, took a couple of deep breaths, and suddenly shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet, launching himself forward.

He took a step forward with his left fist, and his palm, wrapped in internal energy, struck Yi Yang's face.

At the same time, he stomped his right foot on the ground, sending shards of stone flying. The fragments mixed with internal energy shot towards Yi Yang's lower body like hidden weapons.

This offensive was more ruthless and decisive than the first one; it was a fight to the death. It was clear that the fighters were highly experienced and knew that only by risking their lives could they survive.

Seeing the opponent attack, Yi Yang did not retreat, but instead gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

He stopped in his tracks and charged forward across the gravel.

The fourth move of the Nine Peaks Saber: Strange Peak.

The blade took an uncanny turn in mid-air, slicing in from the outside of the man in black's left fist. The wind from the man's punch whistled past Yi Yang's ear, the hot air making his ear burn, but Yi Yang's blade was already pressed against the man in black's chest.

Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, the man in black narrowed his eyes and tried to block the knife with his left palm.

late!

Yi Yang's blade pierced the flesh three-tenths of an inch before suddenly swirling back. This was the essence of Qi Feng's technique—entering and exiting, exiting and then entering again.

The first cut sliced ​​open the skin and flesh of the chest, and the second cut immediately followed by twisting into the opponent's left rib.

A sharp pain shot through him, and the man in black let out a muffled scream. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth through the black cloth. But Yi Yang noticed a detail from the feedback from the hilt of the knife—this man had an old injury in his rib area, and his blood and qi would be noticeably sluggish when they reached that area.

He had been injured before he came to the alley.

And judging from the other party's actions, they seem to want to leave quickly. What urgent matter could it be?

Before Yi Yang could think any further, the Ninth Form, Absolute Peak, was already poised to strike, aiming to kill his opponent in one blow and end the battle.

But despite the risk of internal organ damage, the man in black suddenly took a step back, creating distance.

As he retreated, the injuries to his internal organs caused him to cough up blood.

The black cloth, soaked with blood, clung to his face, outlining the contours of his cheekbones.

The man in black began to breathe heavily. After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke, his words coming out rapidly: "You are Yi Yang, the warden of the South City Prison."

When he realized that the other party recognized him, Yi Yang's eyebrows twitched slightly.

The black-clad man's voice changed; beneath the hoarseness lay the confidence of someone in a superior position, an air that couldn't be suppressed even when he was covered in blood.

"I didn't expect you to be so secretive."

He reached out and ripped off the black cloth covering his face, revealing a withered and aged face. His cheekbones were high, his eyes were sunken, and his face was as hard and dry as an ancient pine tree.

Yi Yang recognized the face; he hadn't seen it in person, but rather in the files of the Sky Patrol Bureau concerning the three major families.

Elder Zhang

Zhang Bonian.

Inner Qi Realm.

The strongest trump card of one of the three great families in Yunlin County.

"I am Zhang Bonian, the eldest elder of the Zhang family."

He spoke quickly, blood still seeping from his chest, but his tone carried an undeniable air of authority as he said, "Spare me the way, and I won't treat you unfairly."

Yi Yang looked at him, her mind racing.

Zhang Bonian appeared here tonight, again looking injured, and in a hurry to escape. Previously, a spy was discovered in the southern city prison; the Zhang family orchestrated a prison break, causing chaos throughout the city—

All the clues come together.

The Zhang family was indeed the mastermind behind tonight's chaos.

Moreover, Zhang Bonian's disheveled appearance indicates that their plan went wrong and an unexpected situation arose.

But what went wrong that made a Grand Elder at the Inner Qi Realm so eager to run away?

Yi Yang didn't know the answer, but there was one thing he was very clear about.

Wang Gongqin and five members of the Nine Evil Cult died in this alley tonight. Zhang Bonian has already exposed his trump card of the Inner Qi Realm.

Let him go?

Let someone who knows your secret go? And that person is seriously injured.

Yi Yang did not speak, but simply held his sword horizontally in front of him, the blade aimed at Zhang Bonian.

The meaning is clear: if you want to leave, leave your life behind.

Seeing Yi Yang's actions, Zhang Bonian's eyes darkened, a hint of murderous intent flashing across his gaunt face, which was quickly replaced by helplessness as he said:

"Do you even know what you're doing? I'm from the Zhang family of the inner city!"

But Yi Yang remained silent, instead gripping the blade tighter.

With nowhere left to retreat, Zhang Bonian's Qi Sea suddenly trembled, and his injured body forcibly activated his internal energy, causing his Qi to surge.

He didn't even care about his broken ribs. He struck out with his left palm, the wind from which swirled dust and gravel towards Yi Yang's face, while simultaneously rushing towards the alley entrance.

He didn't want to kill Yi Yang, but rather to seize the opportunity to open a path to survival. All he wanted was to escape. He never expected that Qi Shujian had set up a trap, and they had all fallen for it.

But Yi Yang had been waiting for this moment, waiting for the opponent to reveal a fatal flaw when they were in a hurry to escape.

Facing the palm strike, he leaned back, the force of the palm brushing past the tip of his nose, the wind pressure blowing his wispy hairs all over his forehead.

Taking this opportunity, Zhang Bonian's figure swept past him and was about to rush out of the alley.

But Yi Yang, having regained his form, moved even faster than him.

He pushed himself to the limit by skimming across the river, his body slicing horizontally in front of Zhang Bonian.

The moment Zhang Bonian saw Yi Yang appear before him, his pupils constricted, and he slapped his left palm again, this time pressing down all the remaining internal energy he had.

However, Yi Yang did not dodge, but took the attack head-on with the blade.

The first peak of the Nine Peaks Blade is Thick Peak.

The blade pressed down from above, so heavy that even the air seemed to groan.

When Zhang Bonian's palm strike collided head-on with the sword strike, the clash of their internal energies caused Zhang Bonian's damaged internal organs to tremble violently, and blood gushed from the corner of his mouth again.

His old injury completely held him back at this moment.

Yi Yang gave him no chance to breathe and unleashed his most powerful sword technique!

The ninth peak.

Absolute peak.

All the force was concentrated into a single point, and the internal energy was poured into the blade, causing a beam of light to fly out from the edge.

There were no fancy moves, no variations; an arc of light swept across from left to right, so fast that Zhang Bonian's eyes couldn't keep up.

His last thought was, "It's too late! How could he possibly possess such perfect, superior swordsmanship!"

The arc of light pierced through Zhang Bonian's waist and abdomen, ending his thoughts.

The knife cuts through people.

Zhang Bonian's upper and lower body fell in opposite directions, his internal organs slid out from the broken ends, and steam rose up.

His eyes were still open, and his lips moved, but no more sound came out.

Zhang Bonian, the eldest elder of the Zhang family, has died.

Yi Yang sheathed his sword, squatted down, and quickly examined the corpse. There were silver notes, several thousand taels, a bottle of unknown elixirs, and two thin booklets.

I didn't have time to look closely, so I stuffed them all into my arms.

In the distance, hurried footsteps and the clanging of metal came from the street corner. They grew closer and closer, clearly indicating that someone was coming. Yi Yang flipped over the wall, stepped onto the roof ridge, and quickly left, his figure disappearing into the night.

……

After a while.

Several figures fell into the alley.

The leader was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark gold robe fluttering in the night wind. He stood at the alley entrance, glanced at the corpses scattered on the ground, and finally fixed his gaze on Zhang Bonian's body, which was broken in two.

Qi Shujian.

The Director of the Sky Patrol Division, the third level of the Inner Qi Realm, "Heavenly Rain Descends".

He was supposed to be in seclusion tonight, attempting to break through to the third level, Heavenly Rain Descends, but was forced out of seclusion by the Zhang family's conspiracy, causing his seclusion to be interrupted and his breakthrough to fail.

But judging from his appearance now, he seems to have been undisturbed. On the contrary, he has broken through to the third level of the Inner Qi Realm and become the strongest person in Yunlin County.

Qi Shujian walked into the alley and stood in front of Zhang Bonian's body. He half-squatted down and reached out to touch the severed wound.

The cross-section is clean, cut in two with a single stroke, without any trace of a second cut.

He then looked at the corpses of Wang Gongqin and her four subordinates beside him, his gaze lingering on each knife wound.

"Superior swordsmanship." Qi Shujian stood up, his tone unusually solemn as he commented, "And at the perfect level."

The bodyguard behind him leaned forward and whispered, "Chief, should we continue the pursuit?"

Qi Shujian did not answer the question. He looked up at the rooftop at the end of the alley, where there were very faint footprints, left by his internal energy lightness skill. They were very clean, but they could not hide them from him.

"No need to follow. We let Zhang Bonian escape in order to deal with the new leader of the Nine Evil Sect, but I didn't expect him to die here. It seems there are still some unknown powerful figures among them!"

Qi Shujian lifted his foot, leaped onto the roof ridge, and chased after it in one direction.

"I'll go myself."

……

Yi Yang ran across the rooftop, intending to go back and check on Jiang Yuexin, hoping that nothing had happened to her.

The ground beneath my feet is made of roof tiles, the stars and moon overhead are overhead, and the wind whistles past my ears, carrying with it thick smoke and distant cries.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced to his left—towards the inner city—where three residences were engulfed in flames. This wasn't ordinary fire; the fires were too concentrated, too evenly distributed—it was arson.

Further away in the streets and alleys came the sounds of clashing weapons and roars; it wasn't the commotion of scattered soldiers, but an organized battle.

The Zhang family's and the Nine Evil Cults' plans were disrupted, and the aftershocks are still spreading. But it seems that the Sky Patrol Division has not collapsed; on the contrary, it has reorganized.

Yi Yang had no time to worry about any of that. All he wanted to do was go home to make sure Jiang Yuexin was safe, and then find a place to hide the things he was carrying.

He quickened his pace, crossing the rooftops of two streets.

Suddenly Yi Yang stopped in his tracks.

A black iron sword flew through the air from behind him with a sharp whistling sound, and accurately embedded itself in the roof ridge three feet in front of him.

Tiles shattered, wood chips flew everywhere, the sword was half-inserted, and the dark gold tassels on the hilt swayed gently in the night wind.

The aura that accompanied the sword made the hairs on the back of Yi Yang stand on end.

The sword didn't kill him, but the message it conveyed was clear.

stop.

Sensing something, Yi Yang slowly turned around.

Behind him, at the other end of the roof ridge, a tall figure had appeared there at some point.

The night wind lifted the hem of his robe, its dark gold gleaming coldly in the firelight.

The man stood with his back to Yi Yang, his hands behind his back, his aura as imposing as a mountain.

Yi Yang gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his inner energy gathering and ready to be unleashed.

The aura emanating from the other party...

It was actually more than one level stronger than the one Zhang Bonian had just killed.