Bandits

Lu Wu-bing had never really had a clear grasp of his own strength.

Judging by his internal energy cultivation, he had only just opened the fourth acupoint of his second meridian. He was still a long way from the Ninth Rank peak of opening three meridians.

At most, he was in the early Ninth Rank.

The very bottom among third-rate martial artists...

But judging by his Sword Thrusting Technique at the major achievement stage, that was a realm only sect leaders of major sects could touch.

Ordinary genius elite disciples only trained their swordsmanship to the Proficient Realm.

Disciples who were relatively "ordinary," like Senior Sister Xiaolan, had only reached the Skilled Realm in swordsmanship.

His swordsmanship was two levels above hers.

In terms of overall strength—

Sect Leader Master's cultivation and swordsmanship were far too formidable to serve as a measure.

Third Senior Brother Wu Yunchong and Senior Sister Xiaolan were both Seventh Rank.

The several enemies they had encountered these past few days had also roughly been at the Seventh Rank.

Defeating them did not seem like much of an achievement. It did not prove anything.

In other words, they all fell within the category of third-rate martial artists.

A step stronger would be Sixth Rank martial artists, who counted as second-rate...

He had heard that Eyebrowless Sword Wei Zhongming, Gu Dongting's chief disciple, was at that realm.

Whether he could defeat him was truly a question.

"Junior Brother only practices the single thrusting move, so it is not easy to gauge. But if someone normally cultivated an entire sword technique to major achievement, then even against a Sixth Rank expert whose swordsmanship had reached the Proficient Realm, they would not necessarily be unable to fight."

Ouyang Lan paused before continuing, "Of course, Fifth Rank and Sixth Rank both involve internal energy surging through the skin and hair, forming a film of qi. In essence, there is not much difference.

If you truly encountered a Fifth Rank powerhouse, you would still have a chance to fight. Use favorable timing, terrain, tricks, and schemes—there would not be no chance of victory at all.

The only concern is if you encounter a Fourth Rank expert. Your half-baked major achievement swordsmanship would probably be of little use then."

"Why is that?"

"Let me tell you. A Fourth Rank expert has opened at least sixteen meridians. Their qi force not only circulates throughout the body, but can also leave the body and take shape, striking more than a foot away...

Think about it—if you met a powerhouse whose qi force could leave their body by a foot, then no matter how fast your swordsmanship was, if your attacks were not strong enough to even pierce their protective qi force, how could you possibly defeat them?"

Ouyang Lan spoke with a touch of envy. "The stewards and elders of every sect, as well as the lone wanderers of the martial world, are all at this realm. They can be considered renowned experts."

He understood. Fourth Rank was a watershed.

Once one reached such a realm, one would have a place in the martial world.

Even when visiting the major sects, one would be treated with courtesy.

They were the backbone of every faction.

As for reaching the upper three ranks, that meant becoming first-rate in the martial world. There was no need to say more.

They were the very peak of every sect and school.

Few and far between.

Gu Dongting of the Eastern Sea Sword Sect was clearly at that level.

He just did not know whether Gu Dongting was Second Rank or First Rank.

He had not guessed Third Rank mainly because Lu Wu-bing had secretly overheard something at the Lu residence that day.

Sect Leader Master Ouyang Zheng and Gu Dongting had briefly exchanged blows. Ouyang Zheng had driven the other back and seemed to have even injured the Eastern Sea sect leader slightly.

Ouyang Lan had proudly said that Sect Leader Master was a First Rank expert under heaven.

Since Gu Dongting had merely fallen into a disadvantage, retreated while injured, and had not been too greatly outmatched, he was most likely a Second Rank expert.

When such experts struck, qi force crisscrossed in every direction...

Thinking of the scene when Ouyang Zheng fought Blood Cloud Old Man that day, a shadow rose in Lu Wu-bing's heart.

It was completely beyond what he could handle.

If he truly came face-to-face with Gu Dongting—

Given the other man's determination to obtain the [Yuanling Swordplay Manual], along with the enmity from Lu Wu-bing killing disciples of the Eastern Sea Sword Sect, the situation would inevitably be incomparably perilous.

He was still too weak.

"As long as training does not kill me, I'll train myself to death."

Internal cultivation was a long and drawn-out process, and progress could not be rushed. The only thing he could rely on was training his swordsmanship to a realm unprecedented before and unmatched after.

Beyond major achievement was the Perfection Realm.

Then above the Perfection Realm, could there be another level?

And would it be enough to contend with upper third-rank experts?

With that thought, Lu Wu-bing forcibly cast aside the trace of weakness in his heart and resumed practicing [White Rainbow Pierces the Sun] with renewed vigor.

Three more days passed. When he had practiced that single thrusting move one hundred and twenty-four thousand times, with seventy-six thousand more strikes needed before breaking through to the Perfection Realm... the road ahead suddenly opened up, and the two of them finally arrived at the foot of Hengshan.

Looking at the mountain range in the distance, shrouded in clouds and mist like a giant dragon lying prone, both of them sucked in a breath of cold air.

This mountain road might be difficult to travel.

Just as they were lamenting the hardships of the journey—

They faintly heard cries and wails drifting from afar.

Carried on the wind was also a faint scent of blood.

"That is... not cooking smoke."

Ouyang Lan's expression tightened.

She had traveled down the mountain with her father and senior brothers. Though she had not experienced much herself along the way, she had seen too many miserable scenes beside the road.

Naturally, she understood what the thick smoke rising into the sky ahead truly meant.

"Burning houses... could that village have been looted?"

Lu Wu-bing reacted as well.

This was no modern society from his previous life. Beyond the protection of cities, all manner of people roamed about. In this world where order was far from complete, the evil in human nature would be magnified to its utmost.

Many times, many people were not much different from beasts.

The two exchanged a glance, their figures tearing through the wind as they fully activated [Inch Step], covering three zhang with every step as they leaped forward.

They raced toward the village.

They were still a little too late...

Fires blazed everywhere in the village. Villagers' corpses lay strewn across the ground, while women wept and screamed as burly men pinned them down and did as they pleased.

More than a dozen men holding sabers and spears were chasing down villagers who dodged and fled.

Among them was a tall, sturdy middle-aged man in rough cloth, around forty years old. Wielding a steel trident, he swung it madly as he fought those murderers to the death.

Puff! Puff! The steel trident whistled through the air with heavy gusts of wind, smashing the heads of two bandits apart.

But surrounded and fighting alone, the middle-aged man was still a trapped beast making its final struggle. He clearly could not hold out much longer.

"This arrow is for your right arm, Gu Dashi. If you sincerely submit to my Chaoyang Stronghold and hand that thing over, not only will your wife and children be safe, I will even make you the Fourth Master. From then on, you can eat fragrant food, drink fine liquor, and enjoy wealth and glory."

In the distance, a long-armed young man dressed in archer's garb with a red sash tied around his waist drew his longbow and loosed an arrow...

"Urgh..."

The arrow punched through the middle-aged man's right arm. The immense force made him stagger, and he was immediately struck across the shoulder by a saber. Blood poured forth like a stream.

"Chen Gong, taking you in was the greatest mistake of my life. Kill me if you want, carve me up if you want. If I so much as furrow my brow, then I am no true man. As for that thing, forget it. I only have one life."

Gu Dashi switched the steel trident to his left hand and swung it even faster, smashing another three men to death.

The red-sashed youth in the distance, Chen Gong, no longer tried to persuade him to surrender. He drew his bow and set an arrow, this time aiming directly at Gu Dashi's chest.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Fine, I'll grant your wish."

Twanging!

Before his words had faded—

His vision blurred at the corner of his eye, and two figures had already charged into the village like wind and lightning.

Before he could make out their appearances—

The slender figure on the left raised a hand and pointed.

A cloud of black appeared before his eyes.

Needles filled the sky, swarming forth like a hive of bees.

Chen Gong only had time to raise a hand to shield his face.

Dozens of tiny holes had already pierced through his body.

The needle flashes howled as they swept onward. More than ten burly men wielding sabers and spears cried out at once and fell in unison.

"What a Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle. Using it on trash like this is somewhat of a waste."

Lu Wu-bing moved forward, sword light flashing repeatedly. As he slaughtered the remaining bandits, he shook his head and sighed.

Although this was the second time he had seen the hidden weapon display its power—

He still found it somewhat unbelievable.