Challenge Letter

Heavenly Sun Gang, council hall.

The gang's many higher-ups and elders all stared solemnly at a challenge letter.

Seated in the place of honor at the center was the Heavenly Sun Gang's leader, the second-rate expert Li Tianyang!

Ever since Li Tianyang had defeated Hundred Battles Sect Master Lie Zhenyue in the arena, the Heavenly Sun Gang's prestige had flourished by the day, and Li Tianyang's personal fame in the Jianghu had risen steadily along with it.

These past few months could be called the most glorious days for Li Tianyang and the Heavenly Sun Gang.

But now, trouble had come knocking for the Heavenly Sun Gang.

This challenge letter had been delivered by the Hundred Battles Sect.

"Does the Hundred Battles Sect still have any experts?"

Li Tianyang asked in a deep voice.

"Gang Leader, we have kept the Hundred Battles Sect under constant surveillance. There are no experts there. On the contrary, their disciples have been fleeing almost every day. At present, only a handful remain in the Hundred Battles Sect. The strongest among them is still Lie Yingniang, but she is only a Third-Rate Martial Artist."

"Then what is this challenge letter about?"

"This..."

Faced with Li Tianyang's questioning, the Heavenly Sun Gang's higher-ups looked at one another.

They could not understand it either. How did the Hundred Battles Sect dare send Li Tianyang a challenge letter?

Were they coming to court death?

"Gang Leader, according to our investigation, Lie Yingniang of the Hundred Battles Sect has spread word that she is using gold, silver, and martial arts manuals to entice Jianghu experts to fight on the Hundred Battles Sect's behalf."

"Lie Yingniang..."

A glint of severity flashed through Li Tianyang's eyes.

Back then, he should not have harbored any reservations over his so-called reputation in the Jianghu.

If he had pulled up the weeds by the roots and destroyed the Hundred Battles Sect, none of this would have happened.

How could he have ended up like this?

He had given the Hundred Battles Sect an opportunity!

"Just who is this 'Li Mu'?"

"Gang Leader, we have inquired into all the experts in the Jianghu, but there is no one named 'Li Mu.' Either he is an expert entering the world for the first time, or he is using an alias."

Li Tianyang fell into thought.

Should he accept this challenge letter or not?

"Gang Leader, you cannot accept it. You are now the dignified leader of our gang. The lives of thousands of Heavenly Sun Gang brothers are tied to you alone—why must you put yourself in danger?"

"That's right. If every stray cat and dog can send us a challenge letter, what would that make our Heavenly Sun Gang?"

"Though the Gang Leader's martial arts are formidable, if by any chance... the consequences would be unthinkable!"

"Gang Leader, I think we should just destroy the Hundred Battles Sect. If the Hundred Battles Sect no longer exists, what meaning would this challenge letter have?"

The gang's elders and higher-ups all opposed Li Tianyang accepting the challenge letter.

Even though Li Tianyang's martial arts were powerful, when it came to a duel, one never feared ten thousand possibilities—only the one that might happen.

The current Li Tianyang absolutely could not afford any mishap.

Li Tianyang weighed the matter for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Fine. We will not accept this challenge letter for now, but do not refuse it either. Say that I am temporarily away from the gang and delay them for a few days."

"Then go bring Chu Shidao here."

Before long, a man in black arrived at the Heavenly Sun Gang's hall.

"Chu Shidao, take your men tonight and wipe out the Hundred Battles Sect! Especially Lie Yingniang—she must not be spared. As for that 'Li Mu,' he is very likely a second-rate expert. Tell them not to act rashly against him. Give him every benefit the Hundred Battles Sect promised him. You are only to destroy the Hundred Battles Sect!"

"Yes, Gang Leader."

Chu Shidao withdrew.

Li Tianyang was very satisfied with Chu Shidao. The man was a blade he secretly used for dirty and exhausting work.

When Chu Shidao's men joined forces, they did not even fear second-rate experts.

Sending Chu Shidao to destroy the Hundred Battles Sect was as sure as ten nails hammered into a board!

Hundred Battles Sect. Ji Qing was still in the library.

Lie Yingniang brought Ji Qing some food.

"How did the challenge letter go?"

Ji Qing asked.

Lie Yingniang shook her head. "Li Tianyang is very cautious. He did not accept the challenge letter. The Heavenly Sun Gang people even made the excuse that Li Tianyang was not in the Heavenly Sun Gang. I think they are clearly stalling for time, most likely to investigate Hero Li's true capabilities."

"Looks like this Li Tianyang is not a rash man either..."

Ji Qing fell into thought.

Since Li Tianyang was not a rash man, why had he agreed to fight Lie Zhenyue to the death on the arena in the first place?

Unless Li Tianyang was certain of victory!

Still, none of that had anything to do with Ji Qing.

He had only agreed to fight Li Tianyang. As for whether Li Tianyang would accept the challenge, that was something the Hundred Battles Sect and Lie Yingniang needed to consider.

"Li Tianyang has a great reputation in the Jianghu now, but fame in the Jianghu can sometimes become a burden. He can delay for a while, but he cannot keep delaying forever. One day, Li Tianyang will accept the challenge letter."

Lie Yingniang had judged it accurately.

Li Tianyang could not possibly refuse the challenge letter.

Lie Yingniang left the library. After Ji Qing finished a simple meal, he continued looking through the martial arts manuals in the library.

Having browsed through so many martial arts manuals, Ji Qing's purpose was to refine his current martial arts system.

At present, Ji Qing's martial arts centered on blade techniques.

What his blade techniques pursued was speed.

Although he now had the Hundred Battles Blade and its power had risen considerably, speed was still the main thing.

Yet Ji Qing felt that his blade techniques still had a flaw.

For instance, drawing the blade took time.

That was an opening.

He had carefully sorted through it. The instant he drew his blade, his blade techniques needed to already possess offensive power.

From the moment the blade left its sheath, it had to be the most violent, fiercest, fastest attack.

All the way until he executed the formal blade technique.

The strongest blade technique had to flow without pause.

Within the Hundred Battles Sect's library, Ji Qing found a Blade Drawing Technique.

However, this Blade Drawing Technique was not as profound as he had imagined.

It was merely a third-rate blade technique that began attacking from the instant the blade was drawn.

Moreover, it was extremely concise, built around one thing: speed.

The faster, the better!

Ji Qing thought it over. This Blade Drawing Technique might truly be able to combine with his current blade techniques.

When that time came, his blade techniques would certainly become even stronger!

However, practicing the Blade Drawing Technique until he reached the entry level would also take time.

So Ji Qing began repeatedly "drawing his blade" within the library, practicing the Blade Drawing Technique in hopes of reaching the entry level as soon as possible.

Besides, Ji Qing did not have many Origin Points left.

He could not casually waste Origin Points on blade techniques.

Therefore, he planned to practice the Blade Drawing Technique himself and see whether he could train it to great mastery.

Just as Ji Qing was practicing the Blade Drawing Technique in the library, a group of men in black had silently approached outside the Hundred Battles Sect.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

The men in black leaped directly over the Hundred Battles Sect's walls and entered the sect.

However, their luck was not very good.

Lie Yingniang was just about to head to the library to collect Ji Qing's bowls and chopsticks.

As a result, a large group of black-clad, masked men appeared right before her eyes.

Lie Yingniang froze slightly, then her expression changed drastically.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Lie Yingniang shouted, alarming the entire Hundred Battles Sect.

Some disciples hurried out, drawing their blades and standing behind Lie Yingniang as they confronted the men in black.

The men in black glanced at the people of the Hundred Battles Sect, then looked toward the distant library.

He knew that "Li Mu" was inside the library.

"Li Mu, we have come today to settle a matter, and our target is only the Hundred Battles Sect. Since Hero Li is not a member of the Hundred Battles Sect, there is no need for you to wade into these muddy waters. So long as Hero Li stays properly inside the room, once we destroy the Hundred Battles Sect, everything the Hundred Battles Sect previously promised Hero Li will still belong to Hero Li."

"Even all the possessions within the Hundred Battles Sect—we will not take so much as a fraction. They will all be given to Hero Li!"

The black-clad man's voice echoed through the Hundred Battles Sect. "Li Mu" in the library would definitely be able to hear it.

"You are from the Heavenly Sun Gang..."

Lie Yingniang reacted.

At the same time, her face instantly changed beyond recognition.

Because what the man in black said made sense.

As long as the people of the Hundred Battles Sect died, wouldn't Ji Qing be able to take whatever he wanted from the Hundred Battles Sect?

Gold and silver?

Martial arts manuals?

They would all be Ji Qing's!

Then why had Ji Qing come to wade into these muddy waters?

After all, only Lie Yingniang knew that the "Li Mu" in the library pavilion was not a real hero.

He was a Demon Lord from the Villain Ranking, one who had slaughtered countless people!

Time passed little by little, yet there was still no movement from the library pavilion.

The man in black smiled.

The people of the Hundred Battles Sect fell into despair as well.

"Hahahaha, thank you, Hero Li, for making this convenient. Today, not a single person from the Hundred Battles Sect will be spared!"

At the black-clad man's command, everyone was just about to make their move.

Bang.

Suddenly, the doors of the library pavilion opened!