Three Blades to Slay!

The area around the Heavenly Sun Gang's arena was already packed with people, most of them Jianghu folk who had gotten wind of the news.

Even the second floors of the slightly more distant inns were crammed full.

The Heavenly Sun Gang's people were maintaining order, but neither Li Tianyang nor "Li Mu" had arrived yet.

"Just who is this 'Li Mu' recruited by the Hundred Battles Sect? The name is unfamiliar; I don't think I've ever heard of such a person in the Jianghu. But since he dared challenge Li Tianyang, he must not be some ordinary nobody."

"I heard 'Li Mu' uses a blade. There are quite a few second-rate blade experts in the Jianghu, so if he used an alias, he'd be hard to identify."

"There's no point guessing. Who in the Jianghu doesn't have some disguise techniques? Who doesn't use an alias? Faces can change and names can be hidden, but martial arts cannot be concealed. Once he makes a move, we'll be able to see something of his style."

"Exactly. As long as this 'Li Mu' really has traveled the Jianghu before, we'll naturally know once he fights."

"I heard Li Tianyang had no choice but to accept the challenge this time. Tsk, tsk. The Li Tianyang of the past wouldn't have cared about a mere challenge letter. He definitely would have ignored it. But now that Li Tianyang has become the Heavenly Sun Gang's leader, ruling one side with overwhelming power, he has gained fame, yet become burdened by it as well. This is the Jianghu—one cannot help oneself..."

Some of the older Jianghu martial artists let out long sighs.

They understood the Jianghu all too well.

Once one entered the Jianghu, one could no longer act as one pleased. No matter who it was, no one could escape the two words: fame and profit!

"The Gang Leader has arrived!"

At that moment, the Heavenly Sun Gang's many senior members and elders arrived.

They came surrounding their gang leader, "Li Tianyang."

Many people's gazes fell upon Li Tianyang.

Over the past few months, Li Tianyang and the Heavenly Sun Gang had truly been in the limelight.

The current Heavenly Sun Gang had become Anyang City's largest gang, controlling the docks, gambling houses, brothels, and many other businesses. It had over a thousand members, with both men and silver.

Li Tianyang had even defeated Hundred Battles Sect Master Lie Zhenyue on the arena, becoming one of Anyang City's foremost experts. His momentum was at its peak.

It was nearly noon by then.

Li Tianyang sat in his chair without even looking over the surrounding crowd, simply closing his eyes to rest.

With his current standing in the Jianghu, he had no need to exchange empty courtesies with anyone.

After waiting another quarter of an hour, the Hundred Battles Sect's people finally arrived.

Lie Yingniang led them.

She could now be considered a "celebrity" in Anyang City.

After all, many people had seen Lie Yingniang recruiting experts in Anyang City before.

Besides Lie Yingniang, there were several Hundred Battles Sect disciples.

"Hm? Why isn't Li Mu here?"

"I know all of these people. None of them is Li Mu."

"It's almost time. Why hasn't Li Mu come yet?"

Many people were puzzled.

Even Li Tianyang opened his eyes, his brows furrowing slightly.

Yet Lie Yingniang remained perfectly composed and said calmly, "When the time comes, Hero Li will naturally arrive!"

There was still roughly half an hour until the appointed time, so everyone could only wait.

"Hmph, what airs!"

The Heavenly Sun Gang's upper ranks snorted coldly, deeply dissatisfied with "Li Mu."

Li Tianyang, however, remained patient. He said indifferently, "Stay calm. We simply wait."

Several constables stood among the crowd, dressed like Jianghu folk.

The one leading them was Du Chen, the Wind Chasing Blade.

"My lord, according to our investigation, this 'Li Mu' is extremely mysterious and highly skilled with the blade. He had no reputation in the Jianghu before, as though he had suddenly sprung out of nowhere. We suspect that 'Li Mu' is an alias!"

A constable lowered his head and reported in a soft voice.

"An alias? We suspected that long ago. It's normal to use an alias. A second-rate blade expert who happened to appear in Anyang City, while the Hundred Battles Sect's people have all appeared but Li Mu has not, keeping an exceptionally low profile... Still, Li Mu is a martial artist. No matter how low-profile he is, once he moves, he will inevitably reveal his tracks!"

"None of you are to act rashly. Watch the fight first. Everything is to follow my orders."

"Yes, my lord."

The constables no longer whispered among themselves, behaving like ordinary Jianghu folk within the crowd.

Time passed bit by bit.

Soon, the appointed hour arrived.

"Lie Yingniang, why hasn't Li Mu appeared yet? Could it be that he has abandoned the fight?"

A Heavenly Sun Gang member called out loudly.

Before Lie Yingniang could answer, several Jianghu martial artists in the crowd were enthusiastically debating whether "Li Tianyang" was stronger or the mysterious "Li Mu" was stronger.

A man wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a long blade at his waist suddenly raised his head. He checked the time. It was about right.

Thus, he said to the Jianghu martial artists before him, "Please make way. I'm going up."

"Where are you going?"

"Of course, to the arena!"

"To... the arena?"

The martial artists' eyes widened, and a flicker of terror appeared in their gazes.

Clearly, they had already guessed his identity.

They hurriedly opened a path, watching helplessly as the unfamiliar bamboo-hatted man walked step by step onto the arena.

The Jianghu folk who had just been "discussing" the matter were all somewhat dumbfounded.

So the person they had been discussing had been right beside them?

Whoosh.

As Ji Qing stepped onto the arena, countless gazes fell upon him.

"Gang Leader Li, the time has come!"

Ji Qing looked toward Li Tianyang in the distance and called softly.

"Li Mu?!"

Li Tianyang was startled and uncertain.

Li Mu had actually arrived long ago?

And he had hidden within the crowd without anyone discovering him.

Du Chen fixed his gaze on "Li Mu" atop the arena.

Yet the "Li Mu" on the arena seemed different from Ji Qing's portrait.

Du Chen could not be certain yet.

But he was patient. He merely needed to keep waiting.

Once they fought, he would know.

Whoosh.

Li Tianyang leaped into the air, landing lightly upon the arena like a nimble bird and displaying his exquisite Lightness Skill.

"Li Mu, you should not have involved yourself in the matter between me and the Hundred Battles Sect. Because you will die!"

Li Tianyang's tone was cold and sinister.

Unfortunately, Ji Qing's expression remained as calm as ever.

Not even the slightest ripple stirred in his heart.

Clang.

Ji Qing drew his blade.

That was his response to Li Tianyang!

Ji Qing did not use the Blade Drawing Technique.

Nor did he accumulate momentum.

Still less did he unleash the Thirteen Fast Blades.

Since he was fighting on behalf of the Hundred Battles Sect, he had to use the Hundred Battles Sect's martial arts.

Ji Qing used the Hundred Battles Blade!

However, the Hundred Battles Blade was just as fast, and both swift and fierce.

With one slash, his blade swept wide and broad, carrying the momentum of charging through a battlefield.

"The Hundred Battles Blade? Lie Zhenyue used the Hundred Battles Blade back then and was still killed by me. What makes you any different?"

Li Tianyang also fiercely drew his sword from its sheath.

Although the blade light had already reached him, Li Tianyang swiftly formed a skyful of sword shadows before himself, like a wall.

Li Tianyang's self-created Heavenly Sun Swordplay could attack and defend, perfect in both offense and defense.

Its defense in particular was an absolute marvel of the Heavenly Sun Swordplay!

Back then, Li Tianyang had relied on that flawless defense to wear Lie Zhenyue to death.

"Li Mu's" blade was indeed fast, even faster than Lie Zhenyue's blade, but Li Tianyang could still react.

As long as Li Mu could not break through his "defense," Li Mu would certainly lose!

Bang.

Blade and sword collided.

"Shake."

Ji Qing gave a low shout.

At the instant blade and sword collided, Shocking Force traveled along Li Mu's blade and smashed viciously into Li Tianyang's sword.

"What?"

Li Tianyang's heart jolted.

The terrifying Shocking Force shook his sword at once, then traveled into his hand.

His once flawless swordplay revealed a trace of a flaw.

"Second blade!"

Ji Qing slashed out again, still incomparably fierce and mighty, still carrying a trace of Shocking Force.

Li Tianyang blocked it, but the hand gripping his sword trembled slightly.

"This is the Hundred Battles Blade? You have already trained the Hundred Battles Blade to the realm of perfection..."

Li Tianyang was utterly horrified.

Lie Zhenyue had only trained the Hundred Battles Blade to great mastery, and Lie Zhenyue had practiced it for twenty years.

How long had "Li Mu" been exposed to the Hundred Battles Blade?

How could he possibly have trained the Hundred Battles Blade to such a perfect realm?

Yet the truth stood right before his eyes!

And Ji Qing's response to Li Tianyang was a third blade!

This slash was even fiercer, even more tyrannical!

Because Ji Qing erupted with Internal Force, instantly increasing its power by thirty percent.

The incomparably pure Pure Origin Inner Force erupted as well, slashing viciously onto Li Tianyang's sword.

Crack.

With a crisp sound, the sword broke!

"No..."

Li Tianyang's eyes widened. His first instinct was to pull away and retreat.

Unfortunately, his movement technique was not faster than Ji Qing's blade.

Pfft.

The blade swept horizontally, sending a massive head flying high into the air before it finally rolled to the ground.