Betrayal

The mountain path grew deeper and deeper.

The forest of Black Wind Ridge became increasingly somber, its vegetation vast and wild like beckoning ghost hands. The air was filled with the stench of blood and decay, as if it had long since transformed into a realm of Asuras.

As Gu Chang'an and his group had just crossed the rocky ridge, a chilling killing intent assailed them.

On the mountainside ahead, three figures stood atop a large boulder.

One of them, clad in red robes, was short and stout, yet his presence was as imposing as an iron tower.

His face was ugly, with a flattened nose and crooked mouth, his flesh bulging like an evil spirit's. In his hand, he dragged a wolf-toothed mace nearly as tall as himself, its cold gleam flashing, stained with blood.

He was precisely the Firewood Gang's Right Protector—Liang Hu.

[Liang Hu: Constitution 308]

Based on this Constitution of 308, it could be seen that Liang Hu possessed extraordinary talent and had already cultivated to the extreme of the Ninth Rank.

He was only a hair's breadth away from the Eighth Rank...

Beside him stood two others. One, in a light white robe, had a handsome face but a cold demeanor, his eyes as sharp as sword edges.

A soft sword hung at his waist, his movements agile, his aura like a slithering snake, striking fear.

[Pei Xuan: Constitution 225]

The other was rough in appearance, bald and bare-chested, with a roaring tiger tattooed on his chest. He held a large axe in both hands, his face stern, his eyes blood red.

[Duan Lie: Constitution 255]

The three stood elevated, their killing intent pressing down, like three demons from hell.

Liang Hu grinned, his voice like grinding stones and iron:

"That old dog Wang Hao couldn't hold back after all. Did you really think a few brats like you could flatten Black Wind Ridge?"

Pei Xuan added coldly, "Cleanse us? Wishful thinking."

Duan Lie slammed his axe into the ground, causing it to tremble:

"I've been waiting for you! Come on, I'll kill every last one of you here!"

Facing three Ninth Rank experts, the constables behind them changed expression drastically, the atmosphere suddenly becoming tense. Gao Ling exclaimed in a low voice:

"Three Ninth Rankers? Can we stop them?"

Gu Chang'an, however, remained calm, his killing intent intensifying in his eyes. He said in a deep voice to those beside him:

"Jiang Yuan, Zheng Zhen, you two handle those Hall Masters. I'll team up with Hongye to take down Liang Hu!"

Jiang Yuan said nothing, drawing his twin hooks. The fighting spirit in his eyes blazed like fire, and he nodded in agreement.

Zheng Zhen glanced at Gu Chang'an, his eyes dark, but he merely nodded slightly and whispered, "Understood."

His tone was flat, but a flicker of darkness flashed in his eyes, as if lost in thought.

Li An Hongye had already drawn her iron whip and stood beside Gu Chang'an, her red clothes fluttering, her gaze as sharp as a knife. "This ugly thing is an eyesore."

Gu Chang'an gave the order: "Attack!"

In a flash of lightning, Gu Chang'an struck first, his saber slashing furiously. The Mountain Shattering Saber Technique surged with the force of a mountain collapsing and thunder roaring, carrying immense power straight towards Liang Hu!

Li An Hongye moved like a swift dragon, her whip coiling around Liang Hu's waist, attempting to disrupt his balance.

Liang Hu grinned ferociously, sweeping his massive wolf-toothed mace horizontally with a gust of wind. The air around him exploded, directly clashing with Gu Chang'an's saber!

"Hmph, brat, you've got some serious strength!"

"You're Gu Chang'an, aren't you? I didn't expect you to grow this much in such a short time."

"If I had known, I would have listened to my brother Liang Biao a few days ago and killed you."

"But it's not too late now..."

"Die, you punk..."

Liang Hu stomped his foot, unleashing a ground-shattering force. He swung his arms, and the wolf-toothed mace descended like a meteor of molten iron.

"Bang!"

Gu Chang'an blocked with his saber, his tiger's mouth throbbing, and he retreated slightly.

"Hahaha, we'll see who dies..."

Facing Liang Hu's powerful onslaught, Gu Chang'an advanced instead of retreating, using the momentum to slide forward, pressing his attack, and unleashing a second saber strike!

Liang Hu struggled to block with the wolf-toothed mace, his expression changing dramatically.

This kid's strength is actually on par with mine?

At the same time, Li An Hongye moved like a phantom, her iron whip curving to block Liang Hu's sides. One whip strike landed on his shoulder, but it only drew blood, failing to penetrate his hardened skin.

"What tough flesh!"

Li An Hongye's brow furrowed, but she didn't back down, her whip shadows falling like rain.

On the other side of the battlefield, Jiang Yuan and Duan Lie clashed head-on. One moved as swiftly as a fierce eagle, the other as heavy as a mountain. Their energies erupted, creating a terrifying spectacle.

Pei Xuan and Zheng Zhen had already clashed, their sword energies fierce, light and shadow intertwining.

Pei Xuan's Startling Snake Sword was like a boneless, spiritual snake, unpredictable and erratic.

Zheng Zhen, however, was as steady as a rock. Each of his sword strikes, though seemingly slow, blocked with airtight precision. The two tested each other's offense and defense, locked in a fierce standoff.

However, at this moment, the battle between Gu Chang'an, Li Hongye, and Liang Hu was even more intense.

Gu Chang'an and Li Hongye attacked Liang Hu together, their long saber and iron whip coordinating flawlessly.

Gu Chang'an's Mountain Shattering Saber Technique was like a giant rock smashing into the ground, each strike heavy and powerful, his momentum immense.

Li Hongye, with her agile movements, weaved her iron whip like a spiritual snake, constantly disrupting Liang Hu's attacks.

The two fought in a dynamic interplay of stillness and motion, hardness and softness.

Although Liang Hu possessed immense strength, his wolf-tooth club striking with earth-shattering force, he was being pushed back step by step by Gu Chang'an.

Li Hongye's iron whip coiled around him like a dragon, leaving him unable to move freely.

"You brat!"

Liang Hu roared, his aura surging. He swept his club horizontally, but Gu Chang'an blocked it with his saber. Veins bulged on Gu Chang'an's arms as the saber and club collided, emitting a thunderous roar.

Gu Chang'an said coldly, "You're nothing but a thick-skinned brute."

Liang Hu laughed in rage, about to unleash his true energy for a head-on clash, when suddenly—

"Ding—!"

A sudden, sharp metallic clang rang out!

A silver light slashed diagonally from the flank, aiming straight for Gu Chang'an's nape!

It was Zheng Zhen—he had suddenly disengaged from Pei Xuan and was attacking Gu Chang'an from behind with his sword, the strike cold and ruthless, filled with a death wish!

Li Hongye gasped, "Careful!"

But Gu Chang'an seemed prepared. He suddenly lowered his body, his Flowing Wind Steps shifting beneath his feet, his form becoming a phantom as he evaded the fatal blow!

"What!"

A cold glint flared in Zheng Zhen's eyes. Without pausing, he brought down his second sword in a diagonal slash!

Gu Chang'an's gaze was sharp and cold. He reversed his long saber, channeling the power of his Mountain Shattering technique into the blade, and slashed back like lightning!

"Puchi!"

A spray of blood erupted.

Zheng Zhen's right arm, along with his long sword, was severed and sent flying several feet, crashing heavily into the bloody mud!

"Ahhh—!"

Zheng Zhen screamed and stumbled backward, blood gushing from his wound. He collapsed to his knees, his face ashen, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

"How is this possible? My strike... how could you have defended against it in advance!"

Gu Chang'an sheathed his saber and stood tall, his eyes as cold as frost. His voice was deep, "Because from the very beginning, something was off about you."

"Your gaze was too unfocused. Every strike, though seemingly precise, wasn't your full effort. And at critical moments, you kept looking back, checking my position."

"I was already guarding against you."

Li Hongye followed closely, a little dazed.

"Junior Brother, you weren't fighting at full strength when you were fighting Liang Hu with me just now?"

Her heart was filled with shock.

She hadn't expected Gu Chang'an, who had only broken through to Ninth Rank half a month ago, to be so much stronger than her so quickly.

And by so much.

Such talent was truly enviable.

Gu Chang'an nodded, his expression calm. "When there's a poisonous snake by your side, if you don't guard against it beforehand, aren't you digging your own grave?"

His gaze was chilling as he looked at Zheng Zhen. "Were you always Daoist Chai's man, or were you just bribed?"

Zheng Zhen gritted his teeth, his face filled with malice, but he couldn't utter a single word. His eyes were full of humiliation and fear.

"Since you've betrayed the Martial Guard Division, you deserve to die."

Gu Chang'an took a step forward, raising his long saber, its edge gleaming like snow.

Zheng Zhen shrieked, "No—"

But his answer was a flash of cold light.

"Swish!"

Blood splattered three feet. Zheng Zhen's head was severed, falling to the ground.

At that instant, Pei Xuan's body suddenly froze. A cold light flared in his eyes, and he roared in anger:

"Damn it!"

Gu Chang'an had already turned around, facing Liang Hu again, his eyes filled with surging battle intent:

"Next, it's your turn!"

"It's balanced now, three versus three..."

If you can't find the book by its title, you can try searching for the author, maybe they just changed their name!