Undiminished Renown

With all the dust settled, everyone gathered beside Lan Wuying's corpse.

"We have all of you young heroes to thank this time."

Old Patriarch Liu also let out a sigh of relief. This crisis could finally be considered resolved.

"Patriarch Liu, there is no need for such ceremony. We were simply doing a job for payment."

Yu Shan of Nine Tripod Mountain cupped his hands.

"That's right. Come to think of it, we should also thank Brother Lu. If not for his eagle-eyed insight, we might still have been kept in the dark."

Zhou Heng of the Seven Fragrance Sect added.

At those words, everyone could not help turning their gazes toward Lu Ming again.

They had not expected this Wuji Sect disciple to possess not only formidable strength, but also such meticulous attention to detail.

Before even arriving, he had already begun considering the circumstances of the mission, and every one of his predictions had proven correct. They could not help admiring him all the more.

"Thank you, Young Hero Lu."

Old Patriarch Liu even gave him a deep bow of his own.

"This battle was also thanks to everyone's efforts."

Lu Ming cupped his hands and humbly replied.

In truth, after witnessing his opponent's movement technique, he had been confident he could easily deal with him alone.

But when he later heard Jiang Ruoshui mention the words "Demonic Cult movement technique," he chose not to strike with his full strength.

Out here, he had no idea whether Lan Wuying had any accomplices. It was better to keep more of his strength hidden.

"Then how do we divide up Lan Wuying's possessions?"

Yu Shan of Nine Tripod Mountain suddenly asked again.

For a moment, no one spoke. They all looked toward Lu Ming, hoping he would make the decision.

Lu Ming did not decline. After thinking for a moment, he said, "As for the mission, Patriarch Liu can write us a certificate. As for the valuables on him, we split them evenly. If there are cultivation manuals or martial techniques, each person makes a copy."

"Good idea. Let's do that."

Zhou Heng of the Seven Fragrance Sect was very satisfied with this arrangement. It was entirely fair.

He had originally feared that Lu Ming would rely on his contributions and strength to claim everything for himself. Unexpectedly, he had measured a gentleman's heart with a petty man's yardstick.

He could not help developing a favorable impression of him.

The others also gained a new understanding of Lu Ming: domineering when he needed to be, modest when he should be.

"Let me see what he has on him."

Yu Shan impatiently stepped forward. He had been utterly envious of the exquisite movement technique Lan Wuying had displayed just now.

Yet, to everyone's disappointment, there were no martial arts manuals in his storage ring or on his person.

There were only over a hundred thousand taels in banknotes, around one hundred and thirty low-grade Origin Stones, and some pills.

After the four divided them up, there was not much to be gained.

They were somewhat unwilling to accept it.

Lu Ming, on the other hand, did not care.

Old Patriarch Liu then invited everyone to a banquet, asking them to stay the night and rest before returning.

However, Lu Ming declined. He had an uneasy feeling in his heart and thought it would be better to leave first.

Worth mentioning was that Jiang Ruoshui actually chose to leave with him as well.

The Liu Family was located in Crushed Stone Town. Night had already fallen, and Lu Ming and Jiang Ruoshui each rode a horse as they galloped down the streets.

They soon left the town and vanished into the darkness.

"You never used your full strength, did you?"

In the blink of an eye, the two arrived at a plain. Jiang Ruoshui suddenly turned her head and asked.

"No. But you should be the same."

Lu Ming replied without turning his head.

"Indeed, I didn't either, though I only held back forty percent of my strength. But you..."

As she spoke, she held the reins in one hand and brushed back the beautiful hair wind had tousled across her forehead with the other. "But you give me the feeling that your depths cannot be fathomed. That is not how an Early True Qi Realm Martial Artist should feel."

Lu Ming neither confirmed nor denied it. Her eye was indeed sharp; he had not even used his strongest blade yet.

"You should be careful of the Nine Heavens Sect in the future as well. You injured their disciple this time. If you encounter his senior brothers or sisters, they will definitely try to regain face."

Jiang Ruoshui kindly reminded him again.

"Thank you for the warning. If I run into them, I'm not someone to be trifled with either."

Lu Ming replied.

He knew his own situation best. With his current strength, he had more than enough ability to protect himself among those in the True Qi Realm. But if he wanted to defeat those gifted youths in the Late True Qi Realm...

He was still far from that.

After all, those people were no less talented, and their martial arts had basically been cultivated to an extremely high level. Coupled with the suppression of their realms, he had no advantage to speak of.

However, he was confident that once he returned this time, he would break through to the Mid True Qi Realm. By then, the gap would narrow even further.

The two then focused on their journey. But as they passed a small hill, Lu Ming suddenly pulled hard on the reins.

"Whoa..."

Brought to an abrupt stop, the horse circled several times before finally steadying itself.

"What is it?"

Jiang Ruoshui stopped as well and came to his side.

Lu Ming stared gravely at the figure atop the hill. What he had feared had still come to pass.

Lan Wuying indeed had an accomplice, and one whose realm was not low. Judging from that presence, he was likely in the Gangqi Realm.

Following Lu Ming's gaze, Jiang Ruoshui also spotted the figure, and her expression changed drastically. She had naturally suspected that Lan Wuying might have accomplices.

That was why she had left together with Lu Ming.

But she had never expected that this accomplice would come for them—and that he would be a Gangqi Realm expert.

"What do we do?"

she turned and asked.

Lu Ming shook his head. At this point, they could only fight for their lives. Relying on the embryonic form of Saber Intent, perhaps there was still a sliver of hope.

As for failure, he could only sigh that fate had not favored him.

But accepting his fate? That was impossible.

"Who might you be, sir?"

Lu Ming tightened his grip on the reins, restraining the increasingly restless horse as he called out loudly.

"You killed my disciple, and you still ask who I am?"

A voice drifted over, light as a breeze.

"Xiao Zan!"

Jiang Ruoshui cried out beside him. Lu Ming's heart sank even deeper. This man had made his name decades ago; he was likely far more than merely Early Gangqi Realm.

That made his chances of survival even slimmer.

"More than one person killed your disciple. Why have you singled us out?"

Lu Ming was somewhat puzzled. He had kept as low a profile as he could.

"Humph!"

In an instant, it was as though a thunderclap exploded beside Lu Ming's ear. "Though more than one person killed my disciple, you are the chief culprit."

Lu Ming picked at his ear, then suddenly tilted his head and smiled. "You're lucky. He's here for me. You should leave first."

Jiang Ruoshui froze for a moment, then understood what he meant. A wave of emotion rose in her heart—but could she leave now?

She was not sure either. "Better not. Perhaps today is simply the day my fate has decreed."

With a sigh, she shook her head and refused.

Lu Ming had no choice but to draw the Ghost Soul Saber and focus completely.

"What a devoted pair. But the people I enjoy killing most are people like you. Die."

Suddenly, the figure atop the hill moved. With the bright moon at his back, he resembled a bat spreading its wings. Only a dark silhouette could be seen as he swept toward them.

Before he even arrived, the fierce Gale Wind already blew so hard that they could barely keep their footing.

"So this is the might of the Gangqi Realm?"

Lu Ming held his breath and concentrated, doing his utmost to catch information about his opponent. But at that moment, another deep, resonant voice suddenly rang out.

"Humph. Do you think a remnant of the Demonic Cult like you can lay a hand on disciples of my Wuji Sect?"

Then came a crack as a violet gleam descended from the heavens, striking at the black shadow.

The black shadow was forced to reveal himself. He was a strange man, his beard and hair entirely white, yet his skin as smooth and delicate as an infant's.

He exclaimed in surprise, "Purple Sun Divine Skill? Could you be Li Ansheng, Sect Master of the Wuji Sect?"

"Sharp eyes. It is indeed I!"

Another figure appeared opposite the black shadow. He looked to be around forty, dressed in white robes and carrying an air of refined elegance.

After confirming the newcomer's identity, Xiao Zan's expression turned grave. Clearly, he knew just how formidable this man was.

But he quickly returned to normal and said in a deep voice, "Why are you here instead of staying in the Wuji Sect?"

Li Ansheng snorted coldly. "Naturally, I came for you. Did you think your tracks were so well concealed? Let me tell you: the moment you stepped into the Zhao Kingdom, we had already noticed you."

Xiao Zan's expression darkened. Once again, he had underestimated the extent of those sects' control over the Zhao Kingdom.

Earlier, he had never intended to kill every sect disciple who had slain his apprentice. That would have been like poking a hornet's nest.

So he had come straight for Lu Ming.

And now he had still been discovered.

"Cut the nonsense. Today, let me see what supreme arts your Demonic Cult possesses!"

As soon as he spoke, purple energy suddenly surged across Li Ansheng's face, waves of heat rising from it—the result of scorching temperatures searing the air.

"Take a move of my Purple Sun Palm!"

In an instant, he raised his palm and struck out. An extremely condensed purple Palm Force shot toward Xiao Zan at blistering speed.

Xiao Zan's expression changed. He immediately took flight and retreated. Once in midair, he did not linger, leaving at once.

BOOM!

Though the purple Palm Force failed to hit its target, it still blasted a small mountain to pieces, sending shattered rocks flying everywhere.

"Hmph, where do you think you're going?!"

Li Ansheng had no intention of letting him escape and immediately gave chase. Before leaving, however, he said to Lu Ming:

"You did well. You did not disgrace the name of our Wuji Sect. Return first."

With that, he vanished.