Easily

Chapter 36

The spear in Chen Jingchun's hand was clearly no ordinary weapon. It had three points and two blades, its entire body crimson-red. Anyone standing too close would feel a wave of heat rush at their face.

Lu Zhaojin drew the Cold Edge Sword. With a ringing sword cry, sword light fell like moonlight to the earth, yet moved as swiftly as a gale. Chen Jingchun barely had time to react. The sword light brushed past his eyes, severing a lock of hair and leaving a long, narrow sword scar upon the stone steps behind him.

From that single strike alone, Chen Jingchun knew Lu Zhaojin was no simple opponent. The contempt in his heart vanished, and he began fighting with all his strength.

He clenched his spear, channeling true qi into it until it seemed to become a blazing ball of flame. As he swung it, crimson streaks of light flashed past and vanished in an instant.

Facing Chen Jingchun's assault, Lu Zhaojin counterattacked with utter composure, like an impregnable city wall that gave Chen Jingchun no way through.

The longer Chen Jingchun fought, the more frantic he became. His moves lost all order, and he could only slash and thrust wildly.

Lu Zhaojin had no wish to keep tangling with him. Once he learned Zhao Jinzhi's whereabouts, he still had to hurry to Lushu Commandery. Thus, after batting aside Chen Jingchun's spear once more, arcs of electricity appeared along the Cold Edge Sword. As he slashed, an arc of lightning cut through the void.

Chen Jingchun's expression changed slightly as he sensed the threat within that strike. "Meteor Spear Art—Falling Star."

The spear was like a meteor streaking across the heavens, tearing through the darkness blanketing the sky and blasting open a thread of light—a single thread of life.

Yet this was merely one of the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art's nine strikes. Eight more followed, each faster than the last, like flashing lightning and roaring thunder. They abruptly shattered that faint meteor glow, and the lightning condensed into the head of a furious, roaring dragon that swallowed Chen Jingchun whole.

Aah!

Lightning raced madly over Chen Jingchun's body, transforming into countless sharp electric blades that sliced through his clothes and the skin unprotected by his soft armor.

In mere moments, Chen Jingchun had become a blood-soaked man, his hair disheveled and his appearance utterly wretched.

Chen Jingchun was not the only one here. Many others were hidden in the shadows.

Elder Liang hid behind a rooftop with the Chen family's attendants, peering out with only his head exposed to watch the two fight.

Not far from this street stood a tavern that had closed early. Centurion Zhao and Probationary Centurion Chai had found good seats on the second floor and sat facing one another. Fine wine and dishes filled their table. As they drank and ate, they watched the two men locked in battle on the street through the propped-open window, fervently hoping Chen Jingchun would kill Lu Zhaojin.

There were also people from the City Lord's Manor hiding in dark corners, spying on this duel.

In truth, they all hoped Chen Jingchun would win and kill Lu Zhaojin cleanly, sparing them from having to act themselves.

But the reality before their eyes was that Chen Jingchun was no match for Lu Zhaojin. Moreover, Lu Zhaojin clearly seemed unwilling to spare Chen Jingchun and intended to kill him.

Naturally, Elder Liang could not allow anything to happen to Chen Jingchun. He stopped hiding and leaped out from behind the roof. A Tang saber flew from his hand. "Stop!"

Lu Zhaojin's sword was blocked by the Tang saber, failing to take Chen Jingchun's head. Chen Jingchun finally caught his breath and seized the chance to unleash a spear thrust faster than a meteor, like a beam of light shooting forward and striking Lu Zhaojin in the chest.

Chen Jingchun's face filled with horror. He had actually failed to pierce Lu Zhaojin's chest. Lu Zhaojin had even cultivated a Hardening Technique.

There had been no record of this whatsoever on the Dragon Ranking.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Lu Zhaojin activated the Golden Body Technique. A bronze sheen surfaced across his skin, and with the Brute Ox Stance having reached the Extreme Realm, his physical strength had long surpassed what it had been on Mount Qi.

Thus, Chen Jingchun's spear thrust had no effect.

Lu Zhaojin seized the Red Flame Spear with his left hand, preventing Chen Jingchun from pulling it back. Raising the Cold Edge Sword, he did not strike at Chen Jingchun. Instead, he knocked Elder Liang's saber away, then a flash of lightning passed over Chen Jingchun's neck. The expression on Chen Jingchun's face froze as his head fell from his shoulders.

Experience +5000 for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist

Experience: 25468

Lu Zhaojin gripped the Red Flame Spear and violently flung Chen Jingchun's corpse aside before hurling the spear at Elder Liang.

Seeing Chen Jingchun dead, Elder Liang flew into a towering rage. Facing the incoming Red Flame Spear, his figure became elusive, like a ghost gliding across the ground. He rapidly closed in on Lu Zhaojin, saber light flashing as he slashed at Lu Zhaojin's neck.

Elder Liang also wanted to sever Lu Zhaojin's neck, both to avenge Chen Jingchun and to have an explanation for the Chen family when he returned.

But wishes were beautiful; reality would not bend to them.

Lu Zhaojin easily dismantled Elder Liang's technique, then turned defense into offense, forcing Elder Liang to call for help. "Zhao Rong, I know you're nearby. Hurry and help me kill this brat. My Chen family will surely reward you handsomely afterward."

Lu Zhaojin looked toward the silent tavern. He had long sensed two auras there, though he did not know who they belonged to.

Still, they were likely both enemies. After all, Niu Hang had already left Luoxia City, and Lu Zhaojin had no friends left in the city.

So he intended to spare no one tonight.

The people Chen Jingchun had brought were merely low-level guards. They could not stop his sword at all, and a red line appeared across every one of their throats.

Experience +500 for killing an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist

Experience +500 for killing an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist

Experience +50 for killing a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist

...

Experience: 27768

Lu Zhaojin walked toward Elder Liang, driving him into a corner. Elder Liang had nowhere left to retreat. The cowardice in his eyes seemed to rebound from rock bottom, transforming into blazing fury that burned his reason to ashes. Throwing all caution aside, he swung his saber at Lu Zhaojin.

But this was only the last flicker of a spent crossbow. With a casual motion, Lu Zhaojin knocked the saber from Elder Liang's hand. Sword light swept across Elder Liang's throat, drawing a spray of blood that bloomed like a vivid flower.

Experience +5000 for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist

Experience: 30768

After dealing with Elder Liang, Lu Zhaojin sheathed his sword, raised his head toward the tavern, and strode over.

Zhao Rong's expression was gloomy. He had not expected matters to develop this way.

At the same time, he cursed Elder Liang in his heart. That fool had actually exposed them. With Lu Zhaojin's temperament of a killing god, they were likely in for it this time.

Probationary Centurion Chai could no longer sit still. He intended to leave through the window, but a streak of sword light flew past his eyes, cutting through the roof bracket and sending it crashing to the ground.

Probationary Centurion Chai was scared out of his wits. His outstretched right leg trembled as he pulled it back.

Soft, unhurried footsteps sounded outside the tavern.

Zhao Rong's face darkened further. Tonight, he had come only to watch this fine show and had not summoned anyone from the True Martial Division, bringing only Probationary Centurion Chai with him. If True Martial Guards had been present, he would have dared to fight Lu Zhaojin no matter what.

Lu Zhaojin entered through the window.

He did not know whether the tavern door was open or shut, nor did he care. The window was more convenient anyway.

Lu Zhaojin looked at the two men in the room and their luxurious True Martial brocade uniforms, then smiled. "How do you intend to die?"

Because of General Banner An's way of doing things, he had never held much goodwill toward the True Martial Division. What had happened tonight made it even more impossible for him to show them mercy.

Besides, these two were both Seventh-Rank Martial Artists. Together, they were worth ten thousand experience points. Why should he let them go?

Zhao Rong looked coldly at Lu Zhaojin. "We are True Martial Guards specially established by the Great Ding Dynasty. If you kill us, you will truly be opposing the Great Ding Dynasty."