Martial Saint

Empty Gate Wide Open!

This is the classic script of a Body Cultivator bullying a Magic Cultivator.

Once they get close, a Magic Cultivator's fragile defense is like paper against a Body Cultivator.

Although Gu Chengming is a "Pseudo Body Cultivator," his swordsmanship is formidable.

He gave Li Miao no chance to adjust her stance.

The sword hilt struck her abdomen.

Inch Strength!

"Ugh!"

Li Miao's body instantly arched, the intense pain blanking her mind.

Gu Chengming seized the opportunity, pressing forward. He held his wooden sword upside down, and the hilt, like a heavy hammer, cleanly struck the back of her head.

"Thud."

The sound alone was painful.

Li Miao's eyes closed, her body went limp, and she collapsed directly onto Su He, who was still twitching.

The two of them, in a human pyramid, lay there, neatly unconscious.

The entire process was smooth and seamless, without any wasted motion.

From Gu Chengming's roar and charge to the two women falling to the ground, it took no more than three breaths.

Gu Chengming let out a sigh of relief, but the most excited was Hundred Bones.

Although Hundred Bones wasn't the main force in this battle, in a way, it had killed enemies of a higher realm. It was now extremely satisfied, wishing it could let out a long howl.

Hundred Bones thinks, with the body of a First Realm Level Four, instantly killing two powerful enemies of the First Realm Mid Stage! Who in this world can stop you and me?

The heroes of the world, only Hundred Bones and Gu Chengming exist!

[Affinity +10]

Gu Chengming listened to the ding-ding-dong prompts in his mind, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

He had clearly won through a trick using the techniques of the Huiyuan Sword Art, yet it automatically assumed it was due to an invincible Physical Body.

To put it bluntly, what does killing enemies of a higher realm have to do with you?

However, he had to play the part.

Gu Chengming quickly adjusted his expression, switching back to that state of Aftermath of a Close Call.

He ignored the two "Corpses" lying on the ground and quickly looked around.

Then, he lowered his voice and spoke to himself in a hurried and serious tone:

"That was close... I didn't expect these two to be so troublesome. If I hadn't risked my life, I might have died here today."

"And..."

Gu Chengming squatted down, pretending to check the clothes of the two, then frowned, his tone even more solemn:

"To be so brazen at the entrance of the sect's market, and wearing Daoning Gate disciple robes... there's a deep conspiracy behind this."

"They must have accomplices ambushing nearby."

After speaking, he suddenly stood up and grabbed Jiang Lu's wrist, who was still stunned.

Jiang Lu shivered all over, finally coming back to his senses. He looked at the two Senior Sisters lying on the ground, unconscious and even twitching slightly, his voice changed:

"Gu, Senior Brother Gu... Th-this, this this this..."

He pointed at the two on the ground, his fingers trembling.

These were Senior Sisters from Daoning Gate!

Just now, right under his nose, Senior Brother Gu had knocked them out with two moves?

And what did Senior Brother Gu just shout? Robber Cultivators?

Jiang Lu's mind was a mess.

Although he was honest, he wasn't stupid. These two Senior Sisters didn't look like Robber Cultivators at all!

But Gu Chengming didn't give him time to think.

"Junior Brother Jiang! Stop looking!"

Gu Chengming had a righteous expression, even with a hint of anxious disappointment:

"This place is not safe!"

"These two are just bait, the real killing intent is still behind them!"

"Let's go! If we're surrounded by their accomplices, neither of us will escape!"

Jiang Lu was so startled by his sudden outburst that he was at a loss. He subconsciously wanted to ask "Really?", but looking at Gu Chengming's extremely serious expression, and then at the two unconscious Senior Sisters on the ground...

For some reason, he believed him a little more.

Could there really be some terrifying organization hidden within the Wenjian Sect?

"Let's go!"

Gu Chengming, without a word, grabbed Jiang Lu and dashed towards the residential area for outer disciples.

All that was left were two pitiful female cultivators from Daoning Gate, lying haphazardly in the cold wind at the entrance of the market, waiting to be discovered by the patrolling enforcement disciples.

PS: Another chapter will be updated a bit later, probably after 12 o'clock. I have a cold and woke up feeling groggy. Sorry.

Chapter 31: Chapter Thirty Junior Brother Jiang is surprisingly kind.

The wind howled, and the scenery on both sides blurred past.

Only when he confirmed no one was chasing them did Gu Chengming slow his pace and calm his breathing.

It was during this lull that he took the opportunity to glance at his system panel.

Hundred Bones is still unsatisfied! It feels that although the two hits just now weren't bloody enough, they were decisive and swift.

[The only regret is not finishing them off on the spot, eradicating the threat, and taking their Storage Bags, but considering they had accomplices, it can understand.]

Hundred Bones's reaction was within expectations.

What Gu Chengming found somewhat unexpected... was the reaction of the Pure Heart Art.

Logically, this kind of fighting, even a somewhat "despicable" sneak attack, should have made this cultivation method, which emphasizes "a mind like still water, unbothered by anything," feel uncomfortable.

However--

[Pure Heart Art watches you talk nonsense with a straight face, then swiftly knocks people out. It feels a sense of joy.]

[It has never experienced this feeling before and is very much looking forward to your next actions.]

[Pure Heart Art Affinity +5]

"?"

It was one thing for Hundred Bones to be a divine being whose cultivation method went crazy, but why were you joining in too?

But despite the grumbling, free Affinity was not to be refused.

Seeing that both cultivation methods were satisfied with his performance just now, Gu Chengming's mood immediately improved a bit.

At this moment, Jiang Lu, who had been in a daze, finally came to his senses.

Blowing in the cold wind, his frozen brain began to operate again.

He stopped, looking at Gu Chengming beside him, whose expression was calm, as if he had just returned from the market after buying groceries. His own expression was complicated, and he hesitated to speak.

The scenes from earlier replayed in his mind like a slideshow.

What robber cultivators, what disguises, what killing for treasure...

Upon closer inspection, it was full of holes.

Those were clearly Senior Sister Su He and Senior Sister Li Miao from Daoning Gate. They had probably heard rumors about Senior Brother Gu and deliberately blocked the entrance, wanting to pick a fight or demand an explanation.

Before they could even say a few words, Senior Brother Gu had slapped them with the label of "robber cultivators" and then knocked them both unconscious.

Although the methods were a bit... well, it was a sneak attack, after all.

But regardless, Senior Brother Gu fought two opponents, and at a lower cultivation level than them, he resolved the battle instantly.

In Wenjian Sect, although infighting among disciples was forbidden, private sparring and brawls like this were not uncommon.

As long as no one was killed and no one's cultivation was crippled, the Law Enforcement Hall usually turned a blind eye.

The truly troublesome part was the aftermath.

Jiang Lu sighed and said with worry:

"Senior Brother Gu, this time... I'm afraid you've thoroughly offended Daoning Gate."

Gu Chengming raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What do you mean?"

"Senior Brother might not know,"

Jiang Lu said with a wry smile, "Although Daoning Gate is a branch of our Wenjian Sect, the female cultivators there... cough, they treat each other like sisters."

"And they are extremely protective. Offending one is almost equivalent to offending a dozen."

This Senior Brother Gu had made You Yuyao cry once, and now he had knocked out two female cultivators. With the new and old grudges combined, rounding it up...

Gu Chengming didn't seem to care much. Compared to this, he was more interested in another matter.

He asked with some confusion: "Junior Brother Jiang, there is something that puzzles me greatly."

"Earlier, I observed those two female cultivators. Although their cultivation levels were both above mine, and their Spiritual Power was abundant. But their reaction speed and swordsmanship skills... forgive my bluntness, were truly too mediocre."

"Are all cultivators in Daoning Gate so... easily defeated?"

As soon as he said this, Jiang Lu was startled and quickly said:

"Senior Brother, please do not say such things outside. Although Daoning Gate belongs to Wenjian Sect, their lineage does not primarily focus on swordsmanship, but on Daoist Arts."

"So-called Art Cultivators are more proficient in Mystical Arts, Talismans, and Formation Disks. The sword in their hands is more of a medium for casting spells, a Magic Sword."

"When it comes to close-quarters combat, they naturally can't compare to us sword cultivators who hone our bodies day in and day out."

"But Senior Brother shouldn't underestimate them either. Daoning Gate's comprehension of Magic Swords, which is integrating Mystical Arts into the sword path, ranks second within the sect."

"If they can create distance and unleash their overwhelming Mystical Art sword formations, their power is also quite terrifying."

Gu Chengming nodded thoughtfully.

However...

"Cultivating Mystical Arts, and their comprehension of Magic Swords is only second?" Gu Chengming caught the blind spot:

"Then who is first?"

Jiang Lu was stunned, wondering why his Senior Brother didn't even know this, but he still followed along:

"The first is naturally Guizang Gate."

"The disciples of Guizang Gate do not cultivate Mystical Arts, nor do they refine elixirs, they don't even understand social graces. They only have eyes for the sword."

"They eat with their swords, sleep with their swords, and some even lock themselves in sword tombs for over a decade to practice their swordsmanship."

"They pursue the purest sword path, emphasizing a single sword to break all techniques. In their eyes, everything in the world is an illusion except for the sword in their hand."

"Therefore, people from Guizang Gate are often solitary and extremely difficult to get along with. If Daoning Gate is the second sect within Wenjian Sect that ordinary disciples least want to offend, then Guizang Gate is absolutely the first."

After explaining, Jiang Lu subconsciously glanced at Gu Chengming beside him.

Gu Chengming's unhesitating sword draw just now, his decisive and ruthless attack, and his sword path talent that made him feel inferior...

A strange thought suddenly popped into Jiang Lu's mind:

Actually... with Senior Brother Gu's personality, if he went to Guizang Gate, he might truly thrive.

As the two chatted, they slowed their pace and unknowingly arrived near the residential area for outer disciples.

The atmosphere eased, and Jiang Lu, remembering what happened earlier, thought Gu Chengming was still worried about retaliation, so he comforted him:

"Speaking of which, Senior Brother doesn't really need to worry too much."