True Martial

True Martial

Lu Zhaojin looked at the damaged wall, then at the middle-aged man who had come in without using the front door. After giving it some thought, he figured the man was probably connected to Lin Qicheng.

After all, Lu Zhaojin had only just arrived in Luoxia City. Lin Qicheng was the only one who had courted death by trying to snatch the Cold Edge Sword, only to be killed by him instead.

Then this middle-aged man should be Lin Qicheng's father.

Lu Zhaojin could tell that the other man was at the Late Seventh-Rank, and that the palm technique he wielded was more formidable than those he had seen on Mount Qi. His use of true qi was also far more practiced than theirs.

So this was the gap.

Still, that was all it was. This man gave him no pressure whatsoever.

Lu Zhaojin remained seated cross-legged on the bed. He swung the Cold Edge Sword, its Sword Light bright and frigid, as though it had stirred up a bitter gale that howled toward Lin Qi.

Lin Qi gathered all the true qi in his body into his right fist, then threw a punch. Along with a resounding, imposing tiger's roar, an illusory White Tiger formed from condensed true qi opened its jaws in a roar and charged on all fours, seemingly transforming into a fierce wind of its own as it crashed into the attack.

Bang!

The true qi collided, neither side gaining the upper hand. The shockwave burst outward, smashing the tables and chairs in the room.

At that moment, a Sword Light flashed like a streak of lightning. Lin Qi had no time to react before sparks burst from his body.

That swift sword strike had failed to kill Lin Qi, which surprised Lu Zhaojin slightly. But when he saw a silver-white gleam exposed through the tear in the man's clothing, he understood. Lin Qi was wearing protective armor, and its grade was not low. Otherwise, how could the Cold Edge Sword have failed to pierce it?

Just as Li Xiufang had said, the Cold Edge Sword was not a famous sword. It could only be considered beneath famous swords but above ordinary treasured swords, stuck in an awkward middle ground.

Still, the Cold Edge Sword was enough for Lu Zhaojin to kill enemies for now. He had no particular thoughts about those famous swords yet.

Lu Zhaojin had not used Gale Sword Intent in that strike just now, because he had believed it would be enough to kill his opponent. He simply had not known the man wore protective armor.

Then Lu Zhaojin held nothing back with every sword strike that followed. Empowered by Gale Sword Intent, wisps of wind seemed to flow over the blade. Every Sword Light he unleashed carried a faint green hue, and Lin Qi felt a chilly breeze brushing over his skin, carrying the stinging pain of blades passing across flesh.

Riiip.

Lin Qi's loose robe was shredded into strips hanging from his body. The close-fitting soft armor beneath was entirely silver-white, though a pale mark lingered across it.

It was clearly left by Lu Zhaojin's previous sword strike.

The longer Lin Qi fought, the more alarmed he became. He had not gained the slightest advantage against the youth. The youth still sat there, not having moved an inch. Lin Qi, on the other hand, darted and twisted about to evade the incoming Sword Qi. Not only had he failed to approach the youth, he was actually being forced backward.

Behind him was where he had entered. If he retreated any farther, he would fall onto the street.

Lin Qi's mind, clouded by rage, had calmed somewhat. Yet when he thought of how he had cultivated for half his life only to be unable to defeat a mere youth, how was he supposed to keep a foothold in Luoxia City afterward?

His Lin Family was the foremost lineage in Luoxia City.

Lin Qi could retreat no further.

At that moment, dense footsteps also rang out from outside.

Seeing Lin Qi's expression ease slightly, Lu Zhaojin knew that the people outside were from the Lin Family.

The Lin Family's Attendant elders smashed through the door, and Lin Family guards surged in, nearly filling the entire room.

Lin Qi waved his hand and shouted, "Get him!"

He threw out an even greater lure, pointing at Lu Zhaojin. "Whoever captures this man can collect one hundred taels of silver from the treasury!"

The Lin Family guards' blood boiled as they began fantasizing about the extravagant lives they would lead after receiving a hundred taels in reward silver.

Their eyes turned crimson, gleaming with greed, as they surrounded Lu Zhaojin. Someone took the lead in pouncing at him, intending to pin Lu Zhaojin beneath him and render him unable to move.

A Sword Light flashed, and the man was severed at the neck. No blood even spurted from the wound; it had frozen into ice.

Experience +50 for killing a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist

Using the true qi within his body, Lu Zhaojin drew out the Cold Edge Sword's chill. Even the Sword Qi he slashed out could carry icy coldness now, so he no longer needed to fear being drenched in spurting blood.

The greed in those people's hearts did not cool because of this. Instead, more and more of them rushed forward, only to be slaughtered by Lu Zhaojin.

Experience +500 for killing an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist

Experience +50 for killing a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist

...

He did not know how many he had killed. In any case, the room was piled full of corpses, many of them headless.

Lu Zhaojin even felt that he was becoming increasingly adept at beheading people.

Throughout it all, Lin Qi had not merely stood by and watched. Whenever Lu Zhaojin had an opening as he swung his sword, he would strike with a sneak attack.

But none of them succeeded.

These people could not bring Lu Zhaojin any pressure at all. Even the Lin Family's Attendant elders came forward only to die, contributing five hundred experience points each to Lu Zhaojin.

There was even an elder in the Seventh-Rank Realm.

He could not block even a single strike from Lu Zhaojin before his head was severed and rolled away somewhere unknown.

Experience +5000 for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist

His experience points soared. Before long, they were on the verge of surpassing ten thousand.

That was already enough for the Jade Purity Heart Method to reach mastery, and for Lu Zhaojin's realm to break through to the Late Seventh-Rank.

But Lin Qi had not yet been dealt with, so there was no rush to raise his cultivation.

Everyone Lin Qi had brought had died at Lu Zhaojin's hands. Now, only Lin Qi remained of the Lin Family in Luoxia City.

Lin Qi was nearly driven mad. He had finally realized that he had kicked an iron plate, but once he had made his move and provoked this foe, there was no taking it back.

Inside, he cursed Lin Qicheng. That boy had been spoiled rotten, daring to provoke anyone at all.

This youth was definitely a prodigy on the Dragon Ranking.

Only fear remained in Lin Qi's heart. He had no will to keep fighting and wanted to flee.

Lu Zhaojin slashed at his back. Even with the soft armor, a crack was carved through it, blood seeping out. At the same time, the tremendous force sent Lin Qi flying from the room and tumbling onto the street.

There had already been many people outside watching the excitement. When someone flew out and crashed onto the ground, it instantly stirred up a commotion.

They retreated some distance, but did not flee far, still surrounding the inn.

At the same time, they recognized that the man sprawled on the ground was actually Lin Qi. Seeing him in such a sorry state, they had no idea whom he had provoked.

As the dominant lineage of Luoxia City, the Lin Family had now been reduced to Lin Qi alone. It seemed Luoxia City was about to see the heavens change.

Lu Zhaojin jumped down through the hole, landing solidly on the ground. Sword in hand, he slowly walked toward Lin Qi.

Lin Qi wanted to crawl up and flee into the distance—or rather, flee to the City Lord's Manor. With the city lord protecting him, this youth would surely not dare act rashly.

Lu Wenxiu, sprawled on the rooftop, watched the spectacle before him with such delight that he could not close his mouth. If only I had a jug of wine, this would be perfect.

He was also deeply astonished by Lu Zhaojin's strength. He felt that Li Xiufang's attempt to win over this youth would likely fail. If she were willing to pay an even greater price... perhaps it could succeed.

But what did the Li Family have now that could move this youth?

Thinking of the Li Family's current predicament, Lu Wenxiu could only shake his head helplessly. "Mistress Xiufang, you can hide for a while, but not for a lifetime. In the end, you still have to return."

Lu Wenxiu suddenly raised his head toward a distant alley. When he saw the magnificent True Martial uniform, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes. "True Martial, Martial Suppression—your hopes are great indeed. But I wonder whether you can suppress this martial world."