Wuji Sect

Facing the powerful and heavy strike of the iron rod, Lu Ming didn't even blink. He raised his saber with one hand, blocking the attack along with its sheath, then smoothly rotated it to deflect the force from the iron rod.

However, it wasn't over yet. In a flash, his saber sheath tapped a pressure point on the strong man's right hand.

Immediately, his arm went numb, and he could no longer grip the heavy iron rod. It slipped from his grasp, hitting the ground with a clatter.

"What?"

The strong man was shocked. The opponent was too fast and too strong. He lost his weapon before he could even react.

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

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

"What a precise counterattack. I didn't expect that at the same Nei Qi eighth layer, someone from the Black Tiger Gang would be no match for the young hero."

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

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

"Little brother, are you not giving my Black Tiger Gang any face?"

Li Qihu's swift defeat startled Advisor Liu. Honestly, although his cultivation realm was one level higher than the adopted son, his actual combat strength was weaker.

Therefore, facing Lu Ming, he knew he was no match, but he had to stand firm 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 his saber's hilt, and said coldly:

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

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

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

Fortunately, at this moment, a deep voice came from the back of the crowd, filling Advisor Liu with joy.

"Sect Leader!"

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

As he walked, waves of internal energy rippled around him.

"Zhen Qi Realm, but it seems to be only the initial stage."

Lu Ming saw the surging energy around him and recognized it as True Qi. However, judging by its aura, it wasn't as strong as the level two initial stage Demonic Beast he encountered in the Shuofeng Mountain Range.

Yes, Lu Ming had already fought with a Demonic Beast equivalent to the initial stage of the Zhen Qi Realm, and not just once.

The first time, he was only at the seventh layer of the Nei Qi Realm. He used all his skills but ultimately fled in a sorry state.

The second time, at the eighth layer of the Nei Qi Realm, he found the beast again and fought it to a standstill. In the end, his Inner Qi was insufficient, and he strategically retreated.

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

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

Therefore, as the middle-aged man in the initial stage of the Zhen Qi Realm stepped forward, he wasn't alarmed at all. At worst, he could retreat calmly and seek revenge another day.

However, the surrounding onlookers didn't think so. As they saw the middle-aged man, even their voices became quieter.

"This is bad. The Black Tiger Gang's Sect Leader, Li Chonghu, has personally arrived."

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

"Noisy!"

Li Chonghu finally emerged. Hearing the surrounding discussions, he let out a cold snort, and the scene immediately fell silent.

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

"I did."

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 spoke, a chilling glint appeared in his eyes, "...or die."

Lu Ming sneered. "How domineering. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were the City Lord. I choose neither. If you want to fight, do it quickly. I happen to 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 people were also taken aback. For some reason, they suddenly felt Lu Ming was being unwise 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 Nei Qi Realm cultivator to dare to provoke me today."

"Take this!"

Without regard for the accusation of bullying a junior, Li Chonghu said in a deep voice, suddenly forming his finger into a claw. A dark claw energy shot towards Lu Ming.

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

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

Lu Ming wasn't in the mood to listen to the surrounding chatter at the moment. He was fully focused. Compared to the Nei Qi Realm, the biggest difference in the Zhen Qi Realm was that True Qi could leave the body, allowing one to unleash palm or fist energy from a distance.

Therefore, he couldn't take the hit head-on. He immediately activated the Soaring Cloud Skill and retreated.

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

A blast of claw energy missed its mark. Li Chonghu wasn't bothered. His figure flashed, and he closed in again with extreme speed.

Simultaneously, his claws struck in rapid succession. Instantly, waves of claw energy shot out, making whooshing sounds. The people around quickly dodged.

The sky full of energy seemed to seal off all of Lu Ming's escape routes. Thus, he didn't dare to hold back. He circulated his Heavenly Saber Inner Qi to its fullest, boosting his speed to the extreme, and then squeezed through the gaps in the claw energy to break free.

"Take this too!"

Having escaped the encirclement, Lu Ming was in mid-air. His body flipped, and the saber sheath happened to be aimed at his opponent. He drew his saber smoothly, turning the sheath into an arrow and shooting it towards his foe.

He naturally followed closely behind. He wanted to attack proactively, and even launch a preemptive strike.

Although the claw energy was powerful, it still required time to gather. Even if it was a short time, with his speed, he could seize that brief moment.

"Hmph, a petty trick!"

Seeing that Lu Ming had actually dodged his inescapable net of an attack, Li Chonghu was very surprised, but he didn't show it on his face.

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

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

Huh?

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

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

He quickly imbued his hands with True Qi and struck again.

This time, he did make contact, but the opponent retreated immediately, not giving him any time to exert force.

So fast!

Seeing the saber light attacking again, Li Chonghu grew increasingly alarmed. He realized that Lu Ming's ability to dodge his pervasive claw energy blockade earlier was not due to luck.

Bang bang bang bang!

One strike, two strikes, three strikes...

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

Li Chonghu fought with frustration. The opponent would touch and retreat, leaving him unable to exert any force.

He did want 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. Furthermore, he would seize the gaps to attack.

And he had no choice but to block, otherwise, he would be struck by a saber.

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

As the opponent's saber speed increased, Li Chonghu found it harder and harder to block. He had to adapt.

However, 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, and then used his Lightness Skill to create distance.

But Lu Ming was like a persistent shadow. With his extreme speed, he closed in again. When the opponent attacked, he dodged. When the opponent dodged, he attacked.

It was just like dealing with that early-stage Level 2 Demonic Beast.

The two then fought from the street to the rooftops, and from the rooftops back to the street.

Crackling sounds and flying bricks and stones echoed continuously.

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

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

"You're not seeing things. Although that person is only at the eighth level of the Nei Qi Realm, his saber speed and movement techniques are extremely fast, and his eyesight is sharp. He can always seize the opponent's openings to attack. That big guy, on the other hand, has a lot of strength but is being suppressed and can't utilize it."

"So that's how it is."

The person who had been confused moments ago suddenly understood. Then, he suddenly realized that the person who had explained it to him didn't seem simple either.

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

This attire immediately marked him as extraordinary. "May I ask the young hero's identity?"

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

Hiss!

Upon hearing the handsome young man announce his identity, the nearby people couldn't help but gasp. The Wuji Sect was a seventh-rank sect, and all its disciples possessed extraordinary talent.

Moreover, this person before them was an inner disciple, with a cultivation realm of at least the early Zhen Qi Realm.

Thus, those who had some doubts about the previous judgment no longer questioned it.

"Then, may I ask Young Hero Chu, who will win this battle?"

Someone stepped closer and asked.