Wuji Sect

Facing the powerful and heavy strike of the incoming staff, Lu Ming didn't even blink. He raised his saber with one hand, blocking with the sheath still on, then twisted it to redirect the force from the iron staff.

However, it wasn't over yet. In a flash of lightning, the saber sheath had already struck an acupuncture point on the strong man's right hand.

Immediately, his arm went numb, and he could no longer hold the heavy iron staff. It slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground with a clattering sound.

"What?"

The strong man was greatly alarmed. The opponent was too fast and too strong. He hadn't even reacted before his weapon was gone.

Realizing he had encountered a tough opponent, he tried to retreat, but a powerful kick to the chest sent him flying backward.

The battle was over in a single move. The surrounding people reacted, their understanding of Lu Ming's strength deepening once again.

"What a precise counterattack. I didn't expect that despite being at the eighth level of Inner Qi, the Black Tiger Gang member would be no match for the young hero."

"I know this person. His name is Li Qihu. He's the adopted son of the Black Tiger Gang leader and practices the Mad Demon Staff Technique. He once beat a Beggar's Gang hall master to death with just three blows."

"Tsk, tsk, such a formidable person, defeated in just one move."

"Little brother, are you deliberately disrespecting the Black Tiger Gang?"

Li Qihu's defeat in a single move startled Master Liu. To be honest, although his realm was one level higher than the adopted son of the gang leader, his actual strength was weaker.

Therefore, facing Lu Ming, he knew he was no match, but he was only holding on for the sake of the Black Tiger Gang's reputation.

Lu Ming had already put down the cloth bag on his shoulder, his hand resting on the saber's hilt, and said coldly:

"I've already been very accommodating. If you insist on pestering me, don't blame me for being ruthless with my saber!"

Master Liu's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected the opponent to be so resolute, leaving him in a dilemma.

"Well said, 'ruthless with my saber'!"

Fortunately, at this moment, a deep voice came from the back of the crowd, making Master Liu's face light up instantly.

"Gang Leader!"

The crowd parted automatically, and a middle-aged man with a full beard strode out with powerful steps.

As he walked, waves of inner energy surged around him.

"True Qi Realm, but it seems to be only the early stage."

Lu Ming saw the surging energy around the man and recognized it as True Qi. However, judging by his aura, he wasn't as strong as the Rank 2 early-stage Demonic Beast he encountered in the Shuofeng Mountain Range.

Yes, Lu Ming had already fought with a Demonic Beast equivalent to the early True Qi Realm, and not just once.

The first time, he was at the seventh level of Inner Qi, using all his skills, and barely escaped;

The second time, he was at the eighth level of Inner Qi. He found the beast again and fought it to a standstill, but his inner energy ran out, and he strategically retreated;

In the subsequent encounters, he lasted longer and longer, even starting to gain the upper hand. If not for the beast's formidable defense, he would have won long ago.

He believed that with a few more encounters, he could completely defeat it.

So, when the middle-aged man in the early True Qi Realm stepped out, he wasn't alarmed at all. At worst, he could still retreat calmly and seek revenge another time.

However, the surrounding people didn't think so. Upon seeing the middle-aged man, even their voices became quieter.

"This is bad. The Black Tiger Gang leader, Li Chonghu, has personally arrived."

"Yes, I've heard that Li Chonghu is extremely ruthless. His Tiger Fiend Claw has crushed countless heads."

"Noisy!"

As Li Chonghu fully emerged and heard the surrounding discussions, he suddenly let out a cold snort, and the scene immediately fell silent.

Satisfied, he then looked at Lu Ming, "You are the one who injured my adopted son?"

"I am."

Lu Ming admitted directly.

"Very well. Now I give you two choices: either join the Black Tiger Gang and serve me for three years, or..."

As he said this, a menacing glint appeared in his eyes, "...or die."

Lu Ming sneered, "So domineering. One would think you were the City Lord. I choose neither. If you want to fight, do it quickly. Coincidentally, I also want to test your skills."

Li Chonghu was stunned. He hadn't expected the opponent to be so bold, showing him no respect and even daring to mock him.

The surrounding crowd was also taken aback. For some reason, they suddenly felt Lu Ming was being reckless and overconfident.

"Hahaha..."

Li Chonghu laughed in anger, then his expression turned icy. "Good. It seems I, Li Chonghu, haven't made a move in a long time, leading a mere Inner Qi realm cultivator to dare to provoke me today."

"Take this!"

Disregarding the suspicion of bullying the young, Li Chonghu shouted in a deep voice, suddenly forming his finger into a claw, and a dark claw energy shot towards Lu Ming.

"It's the Tiger Fiend Claw, Li Chonghu's signature move!"

Upon seeing the black claw energy, the surrounding people immediately recognized it.

Lu Ming, at this moment, had no time to listen to the surrounding chatter. He was fully focused. The biggest difference between the Inner Qi Realm and the True Qi Realm was that True Qi could leave the body, allowing for ranged attacks like palm strikes and fist strikes.

Therefore, he couldn't meet the attack head-on. He immediately retreated using the Cloud Soaring Skill.

"Hmph, let's see how long you can dodge!"

As a blast of claw energy missed, Li Qihu was unfazed. His figure flickered, and he closed the distance again with incredible speed.

Simultaneously, he unleashed a rapid barrage of claw strikes. Instantly, waves of claw energy shot out, making swishing sounds as the surrounding people scrambled to get out of the way.

The overwhelming energy seemed to seal off all of Lu Ming's escape routes. Thus, he dared not hold back, circulating his Heavenly Saber inner energy to its limit, pushing his speed to the extreme. Then, like finding a needle in a haystack, he slipped through the encirclement of claw energy.

"Take this from me too!"

Having broken free, Lu Ming flipped his body in mid-air. His sword sheath perfectly aligned with his opponent, so he drew his saber as he spun, turning the sheath into a sharp arrow and shooting it towards him.

He followed immediately, intending to go on the offensive, and an aggressive one at that.

Although the claw energy was potent, it still required time to gather. Even if it was a short time, with his speed, he could exploit the brief window.

"Hmph, a mere parlor trick!"

Seeing that Lu Ming had actually evaded his net-like attack, Li Qihu was greatly surprised, though he didn't show it on his face.

With a calm claw strike, he shattered the incoming sword sheath into pieces, then prepared to meet the saber light that followed.

He intended to shatter the opponent's saber as well. His Tiger Fiend Claw, cultivated over many years, gave him such confidence.

Huh?

However, to his surprise, he grasped at empty air. The saber light came from another direction.

Years of experience told him it wasn't his eyesight that was failing, but that the opponent's change of attack was too fast.

He quickly infused his hands with True Qi and attacked again.

This time, he made contact, but the opponent retreated at the slightest touch, giving him no time to exert his strength.

So fast!

Seeing the saber light attack again, Li Qihu grew increasingly alarmed, realizing that Lu Ming's earlier evasion of his all-encompassing claw energy blockade was not due to luck.

Bang bang bang bang!

Lu Ming was now unleashing the second stance of the Heavenly Saber Saber Art, the Pouring Rain Style. His attacks were continuous and each strike was faster than the last.

Li Qihu fought with immense frustration. The opponent would touch and retreat, leaving him unable to land a solid blow.

He wanted to counterattack, so he fully circulated his True Qi, intending to kill the opponent with his claws.

But the opponent's speed was like a phantom, never engaging directly. He would also seize openings to attack.

And Li Qihu had no choice but to block, otherwise, he would take a saber hit.

"No, I need to create distance. That's the only way I can leverage the advantage of my True Qi."

As the opponent's saber speed increased, Li Qihu found it harder and harder to keep up his defenses. He had to adapt.

Yet, he didn't even realize that, without him noticing, he had already begun to regard Lu Ming as an equal opponent.

He circulated his True Qi again, forcing Lu Ming back, then used his movement technique to create distance.

However, Lu Ming clung to him like a stubborn stain. With his incredible speed, he closed the gap again. When the opponent attacked, he dodged; when the opponent dodged, he attacked.

It was just like how he dealt with that second-level Demonic Beast.

From there, the two fought from the street onto the rooftops, and then from the rooftops back down to the street.

Crackling sounds, bricks and stones flying, explosions echoing continuously.

The surrounding onlookers retreated further and further, their astonishment growing.

"Am I seeing things? It looks like that young hero is dominating Li Qihu?"

"You're not seeing things. Although that person is only at the eighth layer of the Inner Qi Realm, his saber speed and footwork are incredibly fast, and his eyesight is sharp. He always finds the opponent's openings to attack. That big guy, despite his power, is being suppressed and can't use it effectively."

"So that's how it is."

The person who had been confused suddenly understood. Then, he suddenly realized that the person who had explained it to him also seemed extraordinary.

He quickly turned his head to look, and saw a handsome young man in a white cloud robe, carrying a long sword on his back.

His attire alone suggested he was no ordinary person. "May I ask the young hero's identity?"

The handsome young man replied without turning his head, "A disciple of the Inner Sect of the Wuji Sect, Chu Yunxiao."

Hiss!

Upon hearing the young man announce his identity, the nearby people gasped in shock. The Wuji Sect was a seventh-rank sect, and its disciples were all exceptionally talented.

Moreover, this was an Inner Sect disciple, meaning his cultivation was at least at the Early True Qi Realm.

Thus, those who had doubted the previous judgment no longer did.

"Then, may I ask Young Master Chu, who do you think will win this battle?"

Someone cautiously asked, stepping closer.