Thirteen

Chapter 49: Thirteen

It was still Lu Zhaojin's usual style—when he killed, he always took the head. This time, it was even so fast it seemed formless.

Duan Xuan stood like a statue. His blood had not even had time to react and still flowed through his body.

A faint breeze blew.

His head could not stay in place and fell from his neck.

The blood did not spray out, instead gushing forth like a spring.

The martial wanderers who had rushed over sucked in cold breaths at the sight. Seeing how young Lu Zhaojin was, they were even more horrified, unable to fathom when such a ferocious youth had emerged in the martial world.

Only when someone recognized Lu Zhaojin did they cry out and reveal his identity: a newly risen young prodigy on the Dragon Ranking. Chen Jingchun had been squeezed off the Dragon Ranking by him, and he had come from Mount Qi... All sorts of information spread. At the same time, some said that the Chen family had recently spared no expense to ignite another war between two commanderies, repeatedly sending people to Luoshui Commandery to seek Lu Zhaojin, claiming they wanted to avenge their son's death.

They did not know the reason behind it. After all, Chen Jingchun had secretly entered Luoshui Commandery, and after his battle with Lu Zhaojin, only people from the City Lord's Manor remained present.

But even the City Lord had been killed by him, so no one could know of Chen Jingchun's death.

Chen Jingyi, however, could discover that Lu Zhaojin had killed him. The matter of a Cave Mansion appearing on Mount Qi could not be concealed; many people had gone there at the time.

Lu Zhaojin was not someone bloodthirsty who attacked others for no reason. Otherwise, he would become a Demonic Cultivator recognized by the martial world and suffer endless pursuit day and night. That would be troublesome.

Yet his title on the Dragon Ranking was actually Sword Demon, which took him by surprise.

He had actually wanted a more pleasant title, something like Sword Immortal. Being called Sword Demon always made it feel as if they regarded him as a demonic cultivator.

Tian Geng saw no sign of weakness in Lu Zhaojin, indicating that throughout his battle with Duan Xuan, he had never used his full strength. He had likely been saving it for that final sword strike.

Why?

He definitely could not use it a second time.

Tian Geng's guess about Lu Zhaojin matched Duan Xuan's. He believed Lu Zhaojin had not yet begun cultivating a technique to condense true essence, so his reserves of true essence could not be much. That final sword strike must have consumed a tremendous amount and could not be used again.

He glanced at Duan Xuan's corpse. "Worthy of Sword Demon Lu Zhaojin. Your reputation is indeed well deserved."

Lu Zhaojin did not believe the True Martial Division had appeared at this time merely to say that. "Speak plainly."

Tian Geng drew the True Martial Saber and pointed it at Lu Zhaojin, declaring righteously, "Lu Zhaojin, you killed more than ten True Martial Guards of my True Martial Division and injured Hundred Household Du Hongwei. You disregarded imperial law and gravely wounded an imperial official. By the law, you are to be arrested and sent to the Imperial Prison."

It sounded quite convincing to Lu Zhaojin. If one did not know the cause and effect, he would instead seem to be the criminal.

But he could not be bothered to explain. Since they intended to fight, they had better be prepared to die.

Tian Geng struck first. True essence surged, and radiant light bloomed from the True Martial Saber. Carrying a saber force, it cleaved out a blade of light several zhang long, slashing down at Lu Zhaojin from above.

Sword intent soared into the heavens. A vertical Sword Light slashed into the blade of light, producing the clang of metal striking metal. Ripples spread across the still air, circle after circle expanding until they enveloped the martial wanderers watching atop the city wall. They felt as though something sharp had pierced their eardrums, pain making them furrow their brows.

Lu Zhaojin and Tian Geng battled, sword and saber colliding and scattering sparks through the air.

At the same time,

Sword intent and saber intent clashed against one another.

Neither yielded.

As long as either side gained the upper hand, the result of this battle would be obvious.

Yet Lu Zhaojin had already fought Duan Xuan, and he was still this overpowering. Everyone was deeply shocked.

Still, he had expended energy after all. Lu Zhaojin would eventually run out of strength and surely fall to Tian Geng. If he were arrested and sent to the Imperial Prison, he would be better off dead.

The crowd shook their heads, feeling a touch of regret for Lu Zhaojin. But more than that, they hoped Tian Geng could capture him.

They harbored some resistance toward Lu Zhaojin's origins. Their thoughts all shared one point: if only Lu Zhaojin had not come from Mount Qi.

But just as everyone thought Lu Zhaojin was about to be defeated by Tian Geng, a sudden change occurred. A powerful force erupted from within Lu Zhaojin, and two sword intents fully revealed themselves before the crowd.

Tian Geng's confident face showed shock. He had never expected Lu Zhaojin not only to comprehend Gale Sword Intent, but also to conceal another sword intent. Thunder roared in his ears, and he knew his opponent also possessed Lightning Sword Intent.

He had seen Lu Zhaojin's final sword strike, that Wind Thunder Slash, but he had not faced it himself and thus could not share Duan Xuan's experience. Now, however, he understood why Duan Xuan had died.

At such a young age, Lu Zhaojin had not only reached the Sixth-Rank Realm, but also possessed two sword intents. Even in the Imperial Capital, he would earn the name of a monster.

The thought that he could not win arose in Tian Geng's heart. His Dao Heart was damaged, and his saber intent weakened by several degrees, completely suppressed by Lu Zhaojin's sword intent.

Tian Geng had no possibility of turning the tables.

Lu Zhaojin truly could not use Wind Thunder Slash again, for little true essence remained in his body. But the two sword intents exerted immense intimidation upon Tian Geng, making him want only to flee the battlefield. Even his moves became distorted, leaving him unable to withstand Lu Zhaojin's attacks.

Wind and Rain Slash.

Tian Geng grew anxious. Knowing that continuing like this would leave him with only a road to death, he poured forth all his strength and unleashed the most powerful slash of his life. Countless blades of light poured toward Lu Zhaojin like a gale carrying densely packed raindrops.

Lu Zhaojin did not take it head-on. He circulated his movement technique, like a fallen leaf drifting in the wind, swaying left and right amid the torrential rain. For raindrops he could not evade, he slashed out Sword Light to break them apart.

At the same time, he used his movement technique to rapidly close in on Tian Geng. When the distance was about right, a Sword Light broke through layer upon layer of rain curtain, transforming into a streak of light as it flew toward Tian Geng.

Tian Geng swung his saber to block it. With a clang, the tremendous force drove him two steps back.

Tian Geng twisted around and ran with the momentum. The direction he fled was actually toward the city.

Lu Zhaojin sensed something was amiss. Could the True Martial Division have someone even stronger than Tian Geng?

If so, then he could not let Tian Geng escape.

Lu Zhaojin used Wind Thunder Slash once more, determined to kill Tian Geng—not merely to stop him from reporting back, but also for fifty thousand experience points.

Seeing the city wall right before him, Tian Geng seemed to see hope of survival. As long as he crossed this wall, then no matter how powerful Lu Zhaojin was, he could not possibly defeat that person.

However.

Before he could leap into the air, a cyan bolt of lightning descended from the sky. It was unbelievably fast. Before he could react, he was engulfed by the light.

The light faded.

Tian Geng stood there in a daze, leaving everyone to stare at him in astonishment, not knowing what had happened.

Only when a red line appeared between his brows and rapidly spread did Tian Geng split into two, each half falling to a different side.

Experience for killing a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist +50000

Experience: 135078

One sword split him down the middle.

Lu Zhaojin let out a breath of turbid air. He could not even spare time to loot their belongings. Stowing the Autumn Equinox Sword, he burrowed into the forest.