Night Battle

Night Battle. The three of them all smiled easily.

Tie Ying continued, "But our goal this time isn't to slaughter the True Martial Sect. We're here for the True Martial Sect's inheritance."

Tie Long nodded.

"That's right. The primary target is the Scripture Pavilion. Second Brother, you're the fastest. When the time comes, make a trip to the Scripture Pavilion. I'll stir up trouble out front and draw Jiang Baishan and those True Disciples over. If anyone blocks you, deal with them quickly and find the True Martial Sect's inherited Cultivation Techniques."

"Third Brother, support us from the rear. If anything happens, be ready to help us retreat at any moment. Also, keep an eye on the foot of the mountain. If someone else has their eyes on the True Martial Sect too and we run into them, that would be troublesome."

Tie Hu and Tie Ying both nodded.

The three had borne notorious names for so many years and still lived free and easy; that was inseparable from their seamless cooperation.

However, Tie Hu was still somewhat unwilling. "Big Brother, Wang paid such a huge price to hire the three of us. The True Martial Sect's inheritance must be anything but ordinary. Are we really just handing it over to him?"

Tie Long said helplessly, "You fool. We can just secretly make a copy for ourselves when the time comes. Give Wang one copy, and if Old Taoist Longshan emerges from seclusion full of life and vigor, they can draw his attention for us."

"There have long been rumors in the martial world that Old Taoist Longshan was able to step into the Core Formation Realm so quickly because of the inheritance he obtained back then. Since we have the chance this time, we must get a good look at it."

"If it truly is a peerless inheritance, we'll snatch it and flee far away to Cangzhou. Could Wang and Old Taoist Longshan really cross countless mountains and rivers to come after us?"

The three smiled darkly.

The night grew ever deeper.

Tie Long checked the time and said coldly, "Move!"

The three swept through the air like great eagles.

Then they split into three separate routes.

Tie Hu lay in wait near the True Martial Sect's Mountain Gate to provide support, while Tie Long headed straight for the True Martial Sect. As for Tie Ying, he concealed himself and waited, poised to strike.

Before long.

A burst of thunderous noise rang out, followed by furious shouts.

"Such audacity! You dare run wild in our True Martial Sect!"

"Where did this death-seeking thief come from?"

"A mighty Gang Yuan Realm expert, yet you hide your head and show your tail? Let me, Jiang Baishan, have a taste of you!"

More and more True Martial Sect disciples gathered.

Tie Long's deep, hoarse laughter rang out in the night sky. "I heard Old Taoist Longshan is nearly dead. I'd like to see whether it's true. Bring Old Taoist Longshan out. You little brats aren't worthy."

On the Martial Arena.

Streams of firelight converged from all directions.

Tie Long stood alone with his hands behind his back, yet he possessed the bearing of a man who could hold off ten thousand. With a casual flick of his fingers, he fired a blast of Gang Qi at an Inner Disciple with terrifying force.

The disciple's mind went blank. Fortunately, Jiang Baishan acted in time from afar, sweeping out a strand of Sword Qi that severed the Gang Qi.

Otherwise, the disciple's head would likely have fallen to the ground at once.

Even so, the Gang Qi had grazed him, leaving a wound on his chest so deep it reached the bone.

The gap between the Inner Yuan Realm and the Gang Qi Realm was simply too vast.

Jiang Baishan's gaze turned cold as he shouted, "Everyone, fall back! I'll take him on!"

His body shot forward like lightning, charging at Tie Long.

Even as they fought, their words clashed without pause, as Jiang Baishan probed for Tie Long's origins. Deep down, he was alarmed. He could clearly sense that this black-clothed man was extraordinarily strong, as though he still had strength to spare.

"Why have you come in the dead of night to disrupt our True Martial Sect? What exactly do you intend?"

Tie Long only sneered, offering no answer.

Old Taoist Longshan still had not appeared after all this time. It seemed he truly was in Seclusion for Breakthrough and had no way to emerge. Tie Long's heart settled completely.

He even mocked, "Is this all the True Martial Sect is capable of? Nothing but an empty reputation!"

Jiang Baishan's face flushed red, yet he could do nothing about it. Fortunately, Xiong Shi, Ye Qinghe, and the other True Disciples arrived at that moment.

"Fifth Brother, we're here to help!"

The True Disciples were indeed no weaklings.

The moment they joined the battle, they immediately restrained Tie Long together, leaving him unable to harm anyone.

As the commotion erupted here.

Tie Ying immediately made his move.

"No signal arrow. Looks like Big Brother has everything well in hand."

Watching the firelight converge toward the Martial Arena, he gave a dark chuckle, concealed his figure, and slipped toward the Scripture Pavilion.

Tie Ying's movement technique was exceptionally refined. Gang Qi flowed around his toes, and with a single step, he crossed an immense distance, easily avoiding the scattered disciples converging on the Martial Arena.

But for some reason—

The deeper he went, the more his heart pounded with unease.

It was as though something were watching him.

He quietly heightened his guard.

"Who's there? Get out here!"

At last, Tie Ying could no longer endure the maddening feeling. With a casual sweep of his hand, he blasted toward the attic beside him.

Gang Yuan exploded outward. Wooden pillars snapped one after another, and the pavilion teetered on the verge of collapse.

Tie Ying's gaze sharpened.

A Middle-aged Daoist stepped out from the shadows and appeared before him. The Daoist looked utterly ordinary, with a greatsword strapped to his back.

This Daoist was none other than Ning Qi in disguise.

Naturally, he had sensed the commotion at the Martial Arena ahead. He had originally intended to go support them, but he had not expected the night raider to be so cunning—openly repairing the plank road while secretly advancing through Chencang. His true target was the Scripture Pavilion. After observing for a moment, Ning Qi determined that the man before him was no weakling; he had to be in the Gang Yuan Realm.

"A sneaking rat who hides his head and shows his tail has finally come out."

Tie Ying let out a savage grin.

Yet inwardly, his vigilance had risen to the utmost limit. He found that he could not see through this Daoist at all.

Ning Qi said calmly, "I fear you are the one hiding your head and showing your tail. Visiting my True Martial Sect in the dead of night—what business do you have here?"

He had originally wanted to find an opportunity to launch a sneak attack, but the perception of a Gang Yuan Realm expert was anything but ordinary. He had no chance to get close. This man had deliberately caused damage precisely to force him out.

I need to end this quickly.

The Senior Brothers up ahead were still fighting. Ning Qi could not afford to waste time.

Tie Ying had just been about to reply.

But then he saw the Daoist charge at him without another word, utterly refusing to play by the usual rules. Every hair on his body stood on end as a Sense of Crisis engulfed his heart. Anyone capable of such intimidation had to be in the Gang Yuan Realm as well.

"The True Martial Sect actually has another hidden expert like this? Wang has screwed me over!"

Tie Ying roared inwardly as his Gang Qi erupted with all his strength.

Streams of Fist Qi and claw qi tore through the air, faint eagle cries ringing out in the night sky. He was called Flying Sky Eagle and excelled in movement techniques, but his strength was not weak either. The Sky Eagle True Gang he cultivated was incomparably sharp. At this moment, strands of Gang Qi pierced the air, carrying an overwhelmingly fierce momentum.

But in the next instant—

His eyes widened in disbelief.

The Daoist opposite him did not reveal any Gang Qi. He merely swung his greatsword casually, yet he shattered every last strand of Gang Qi.

Then Tie Ying flew into a towering rage.

"A dignified Gang Yuan Realm expert who refuses to reveal his Gang Qi—are you trying to toy with me?"

His eyes turned cold as his body swooped down like an eagle. The Sky Eagle True Gang excelled most at close combat. He was going to show this arrogant Daoist what for.

Ning Qi was inwardly marveling at how truly excellent the Dragon Owl Sword was when he saw the Black-clothed man before him get provoked and actually charge over of his own accord. He could not help but smile inwardly.

The most troublesome thing about Gang Yuan Realm experts, to him, was that their Gang Qi could shoot across dozens of Zhang from afar.

If the other party fought him at range, he would have to spend considerable effort just to get close.

But now—

Tie Ying, unaware of Ning Qi's true capabilities, had instead rushed toward him.

It was rather like waving at the King of Hell.