Chapter 30: Three Saber Slashes!
The Tian Yang Gang Arena was already surrounded by crowds on all sides, mostly Jianghu people who had received the news.
Even the second floor of an inn a bit farther away was packed with people.
Tian Yang Gang members were maintaining order, but neither Li Tianyang nor “Li Mu” had arrived yet.
“Who exactly is this ‘Li Mu’ that Hundred Battles Sect recruited? This name is very unfamiliar; it seems no one in Jianghu has heard of such a person. But since he dares to challenge Li Tianyang, he must not be an ordinary person.”
“I heard ‘Li Mu’ uses a saber. There are quite a few second-rate experts in Jianghu who use sabers. If he’s using an alias, it’s really hard to guess.”
“Guessing back and forth is meaningless. Who in Jianghu doesn’t have some disguise techniques? Who doesn’t use an alias? But appearance can be changed, names can be hidden, but martial arts cannot be concealed. Once he makes a move, we’ll see some clues.”
“Yeah, as long as this ‘Li Mu’ has truly walked the Jianghu before, we’ll know as soon as he makes a move.”
“I heard that this time Li Tianyang had no choice but to accept the challenge letter. Tsk tsk, if it were the old Li Tianyang, what would a mere challenge letter matter? He definitely wouldn’t pay it any mind. But now Li Tianyang has become the Tian Yang Gang Leader, dominating one side. Though he has reputation, he’s also burdened by it. That’s Jianghu—body not one’s own…”
Some older Jianghu martial artists all let out a long sigh.
They knew Jianghu all too well.
Once entered Jianghu, body not one’s own; no matter who, no one can escape fame and fortune!
“Gang Leader has arrived!”
At this moment, numerous Tian Yang Gang high-level members and elders had arrived.
Escorting Gang Leader “Li Tianyang” over.
Many people’s gazes fell on Li Tianyang.
In recent months, Li Tianyang and Tian Yang Gang had been in the limelight.
Now Tian Yang Gang had become An Yang City’s number one gang, controlling the wharf, casino, brothel, and many other businesses, with over a thousand gang members and plenty of silver.
Li Tianyang had even defeated Hundred Battles Sect Leader Lie Zhenyue in the arena, becoming one of An Yang City’s top experts, at the height of his prestige.
It was now almost noon.
Li Tianyang sat in his chair without looking at the surrounding crowd, directly closing his eyes to rest.
With his current status in Jianghu, he no longer needed to feign civility with anyone.
After waiting another quarter of an hour, Hundred Battles Sect people finally arrived.
Led by Lie Yingniang.
She could now be considered a “celebrity” in An Yang City.
After all, Lie Yingniang had recruited experts in An Yang City before, and many people had seen her.
Besides Lie Yingniang, there were several Hundred Battles Sect disciples.
“Hm? Why no Li Mu?”
“I know these people; they’re definitely not Li Mu.”
“It’s almost time; why hasn’t Li Mu come?”
Many people were very puzzled.
Even Li Tianyang opened his eyes, his brows lightly furrowing.
Lie Yingniang, however, was calm and composed, saying indifferently: “When the time comes, Great Hero Li will naturally arrive!”
There was still about half an hour until the appointed time, so the crowd could only wait.
“Hmph, what a big airs!”
A Tian Yang Gang high-level member snorted coldly, very dissatisfied with “Li Mu.”
Li Tianyang remained calm, saying indifferently: “Stay calm and wait.”
There were several constables in the crowd, but all dressed as ordinary Jianghu people.
The leader among them was Chasing Wind Blade Du Chen.
“Lord, according to our investigation, this ‘Li Mu’ is extremely mysterious and skilled with a saber. He had no reputation in Jianghu before, as if he suddenly appeared out of nowhere. We suspect ‘Li Mu’ is using an alias!”
A constable reported in a low voice with his head bowed.
“Alias? We guessed that long ago; using an alias is normal. A second-rate saber expert who conveniently appears in An Yang City, with Hundred Battles Sect people showing up but Li Mu staying low-key… However, Li Mu is a martial artist. No matter how low-key he is, as soon as he makes a move, he’ll reveal his flaws!”
“You all don’t act rashly; observe the fight first and follow my orders.”
“Yes, Lord.”
The constables stopped whispering and blended into the crowd like ordinary Jianghu people.
Time passed bit by bit.
Soon, it was the appointed time.
“Lie Yingniang, why hasn’t Li Mu appeared? Could he be forfeiting?”
Tian Yang Gang people shouted loudly.
Before Lie Yingniang could answer, in the crowd, several Jianghu martial artists were hotly discussing whether “Li Tianyang” was stronger or the mysterious “Li Mu” was stronger.
A man wearing a conical hat with a long saber at his waist suddenly raised his head, checked the time, and saw it was about right.
So, he said to the several Jianghu people in front of him: “Please make way; I’m going up.”
“Where are you going?”
“Of course, to the arena!”
“To the… arena?”
These several martial artists widened their eyes, a trace of terror in their gazes.
Clearly, they had guessed the man’s identity.
They hurriedly made way, watching wide-eyed as the unfamiliar conical hat man stepped onto the arena.
The several Jianghu people who had just been “discussing” were a bit stunned.
Turns out the person they were discussing was right beside them?
“Shua.”
As Ji Qing arrived on the arena, countless gazes fell on him.
“Gang Leader Li, the time has come!”
Ji Qing gazed at the distant Li Tianyang and called out softly.
“Li Mu?!”
Li Tianyang was shocked and suspicious.
Li Mu had actually arrived long ago?
And hidden in the crowd without anyone noticing.
Du Chen stared deadly at “Li Mu” on the arena.
But the “Li Mu” on the arena seemed different from “Ji Qing’s” portrait.
Du Chen couldn’t be sure yet.
But he was very patient and could continue waiting.
He’d know once they started fighting.
“Whoosh.”
Li Tianyang leaped up, landing on the arena as nimbly as a bird, displaying his superb lightness skill.
“Li Mu, you shouldn’t meddle in my affairs with Hundred Battles Sect. Because you will die!”
Li Tianyang said in a chilling tone.
Unfortunately, Ji Qing’s expression remained as calm as ever.
Not even his emotions fluctuated in the slightest.
“Keng.”
Ji Qing drew his saber.
This was his response to Li Tianyang!
Ji Qing did not use Drawing Sword Technique.
Nor did he accumulate momentum.
He didn’t even use Thirteen Fast Blades.
Since he was representing Hundred Battles Sect in the fight, he had to use Hundred Battles Sect martial arts.
Ji Qing used Hundred Battles Saber!
However, Hundred Battles Saber was also very fast, both fast and fierce.
One saber slash, bold and sweeping, with a “battlefield charge” momentum.
“Hundred Battles Saber? I killed Lie Zhenyue when he used Hundred Battles Saber back then; let alone you?”
Li Tianyang also fiercely drew his sword.
Although the blade light was already before him, Li Tianyang swiftly formed a sky-full of sword shadows in front of him, like a wall.
Li Tianyang’s self-created Tian Yang Sword Technique could attack and defend, excelling in both.
Especially defense, which was the pinnacle of Tian Yang Sword Technique!
Back then, Li Tianyang had relied on flawless defense to wear down and kill Lie Zhenyue.
“Li Mu’s” saber was indeed very fast, even faster than Lie Zhenyue’s, but Li Tianyang could still react.
As long as he couldn’t break the “defense,” “Li Mu” was sure to lose!
“Bang.”
Saber and sword collided.
“Shock.”
Ji Qing shouted softly.
At the instant of the saber-sword clash, “Shocking Force” surged along Li Mu’s saber and slammed into Li Tianyang’s sword body.
“What?”
Li Tianyang’s heart jolted.
The terrifying Shocking Force instantly vibrated his sword body, then transmitted to his hand.
His originally flawless sword technique now had a slight flaw.
“Second saber!”
Ji Qing slashed out another saber, still fiercely unyielding, still carrying a trace of Shocking Force.
Li Tianyang blocked it, but his sword-holding hand trembled slightly.
“This is Hundred Battles Saber? You’ve trained Hundred Battles Saber to the divine realm…”
Li Tianyang was utterly horrified inside.
Lie Zhenyue had only trained Hundred Battles Saber to major accomplishment, and that after twenty years.
How long had ‘Li Mu’ been in contact with Hundred Battles Saber?
How could he possibly train Hundred Battles Saber to the divine realm?
But the fact was right before his eyes!
And Ji Qing’s response to Li Tianyang was the third saber!
This saber was even fiercer, even more domineering!
Because Ji Qing burst his internal energy, instantly boosting the might by thirty percent.
The extremely pure Pure Origin Internal Energy also erupted, slashing fiercely onto Li Tianyang’s sword body.
“Crack.”
A crisp sound; the sword broke!
“No…”
Li Tianyang widened his eyes; his first thought was to retreat.
Unfortunately, his movement wasn’t faster than Ji Qing’s saber.
“Puchi.”
The saber body slashed horizontally, and a large head flew high, finally rolling to the ground.
