Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

At the same time, Xu Yang moved.

The great dragon of his spine roared. His muscles bulged with a crisp CRACK, like refined iron grinding together, producing a sound that set one’s teeth on edge.

His other hand, at some unknown point, had also gripped the saber’s hilt. He slashed out in mid-air.

"SWISH!"

The air shrieked as it was torn apart. A silver crescent of Sword Qi shot out from his blade.

The Sword Qi was sharp and domineering, radiating an intense heat.

Fiery Sun Blade Qi!

The strongest attack of the Fiery Sun Gang Saber, only unleashable upon reaching the Third Realm.

"Sword Qi?"

Ma Jun’s face changed drastically. Under the assault of the sharp Sword Qi, he felt goosebumps erupt all over his body. He quickly raised his Protective Gang Qi and hastily slapped a palm toward the silver Sword Qi that was already upon him.

The next moment, the Sword Qi collided with his palm.

"BANG!"

A deafening crash exploded through the forest, sending out visible ripples.

The ground centered on the point of impact tore apart, creating a terrifying ravine.

A spray of blood splattered, only to be vaporized mid-air by the terrifying heat. Ma Jun felt as if his palm had been hacked by a red-hot blade. Green smoke rose from the wound, and his body flew backward involuntarily. The Protective Gang Qi he had barely managed to summon was now covered in a dense web of cracks.

"Minor Achievement in Gang Qi Cultivation, Great Success Level Saber Technique!"

Ma Jun was horrified. ’This isn’t the Initial Stage of Gang Qi cultivation that idiot Xiao Hua described at all! This isn’t some ant I can crush at will—it’s a vicious, cunning wolf!’

His combat power was nearly on par with a Gang Qi Great Success master, yet he’d pretended not to even have Gang Qi Minor Achievement.

"You bastard!"

Excruciating pain shot from his palm. Ma Jun’s expression twisted, his killing intent surging.

He arrested his backward momentum in mid-air and scanned the area, only to find that Xu Yang had vanished from his original spot.

’Not good!’

A roar thundered in his ears as he heard the sharp sound of air being sliced by a blade. At the same time, a searing white Sword Qi appeared in the corner of his eye.

’So fast!’

’Xu Yang’s speed is this terrifying too?’

"BANG!"

The Sword Qi tore through his Protective Gang Qi. Ma Jun shuddered as a bloody gash appeared on his abdomen, the flesh rolling back to nearly expose his internal organs.

"Ahhh..."

A shrill cry echoed through the wilderness, accompanied by the faint smell of cooked meat.

Ma Jun’s features contorted as his body, still in mid-air, was sent flying in another direction by the slash.

’Gang Qi Great Success is really hard to kill.’

Xu Yang’s expression was grave.

Ma Jun’s Gang Qi was abundant, his Protective Gang Qi nearly half a foot thick. After the Sword Qi broke through the Protective Gang Qi, its power was greatly diminished, only able to leave a bloody gash.

However, he had successfully landed two consecutive strikes and heavily injured Ma Jun. Now, all that was left was to slowly wear him down to death.

The earth exploded beneath his feet. Like a bolt of lightning, he gave chase, slashing out with his saber once more.

"You deserve to die!"

Ma Jun roared. He thought he had taken Xu Yang seriously enough, but he was still ambushed and severely wounded. Who could have imagined that Xu Yang had hidden his strength so deeply?

He used his Gang Qi to stanch the bleeding from his wounds. He had just managed to right himself in mid-air when he saw another saber light, as brilliant as the scorching sun, cleaving down at his head.

"ROAR!"

Ma Jun bellowed in fury. If this slash connected, even if it didn’t kill him, he’d be close to death.

Ignoring his injuries, he twisted his waist, his Gang Qi erupting. With a "Giant Serpent Flip," he forcibly shifted his body a foot to the side in mid-air.

Blood spurted from his wound, but thankfully, he had dodged the fatal blow. He staggered in mid-air before managing to stop the bleeding again.

"BANG!"

The Sword Qi grazed past his body and slammed into the ground, tearing a horrifying gash in the earth. It rumbled and smoked, emitting plumes of green vapor.

Ma Jun sucked in a breath of cold air. ’This Saber Technique is so domineering and sharp... it’s not a Purple Sun Sect Martial Art at all.’

"Die!"

He was a Gang Qi Great Success master, after all. After a few embarrassing moments, he finally reacted. His large hand, wrapped in a suffocating Force, struck at Xu Yang like a landslide or a tsunami.

Phantom Star Gang Fist!

Xu Yang countered with a punch of his own.

Although his Phantom Star Gang Fist had not yet reached Great Success, it was very close. Coupled with the enhancement from the Golden Gang Skill, the power of this punch was equally terrifying.

His entire body seemed to be made of metal. His muscles emitted a white light, as if pieces of metal were embedded in his flesh.

His bones and tendons roared, thrumming like a taut bowstring. Silver Gang Qi surged ceaselessly into his fist.

"BANG!"

Fist met palm with a terrifying boom, sending Gang Qi blasting in all directions.

Xu Yang’s whole body shook. He felt a powerful force, no weaker than his own, surge toward him. His bones vibrated, and his qi and blood churned, interrupting the saber strike he was about to unleash and forcing him to take a step back.

Ma Jun let out a muffled grunt, his expression pained.

Not only was Xu Yang’s Saber Technique domineering and sharp, but his Force was also terrifyingly abnormal, no weaker than his own as a Gang Qi Great Success master.

He felt as if his bones were about to shatter. His own Gang Qi recoiled and slammed into his flesh, and the blood from his wounds could no longer be stopped, gushing out like a fountain.

His face turned deathly pale. He couldn’t help but stumble back three steps, the earth cracking beneath his feet.

"Give me your life!"

Xu Yang’s Physique was tyrannical, his bones and sinews frighteningly tough. He had no fear of this kind of direct clash.

Suppressing his churning qi and blood in an instant, he lunged forward, his long saber sweeping out with a sharp, brilliant edge.

As the saying goes, "an inch longer is an inch stronger." Before Ma Jun could even react, the brilliant long saber had already cut through his Protective Gang Qi, aiming to slice him in two at the waist.

Fortunately, his reaction was fast enough. He quickly retreated a step, avoiding most of the blade.

Blood spattered as another gash appeared on his abdomen.

A look of terror flashed across his face; he had nearly been cut in half.

Xu Yang pressed his advantage, unforgiving. His Sword Gang flared, and a heat wave swept out in all directions as he strode forward and slashed again.

"Ah!"

On the brink of death, Ma Jun roared, crossing his palms to strike at the Sword Gang cleaving down at him.

"BOOM!"

A violent explosion shook the wilderness. Both men were engulfed by terrifying Gang Qi, and a dragon of smoke and dust soared into the sky.

The Sword Gang shattered. Ma Jun’s arms split open, and blood had already dyed his body red.

His eyes were bloodshot as he desperately held back the long saber with both hands.

They were locked in a contest of strength!

Xu Yang pressed down on the blade with both hands, pouring layer after layer of Gang Qi into it. His feet had already sunk into the ground.

Blood continuously gushed from the wound on Ma Jun’s abdomen, forming a pool on the ground. His strength waned, and the saber’s edge pressed down toward his forehead at a visible rate.

"Xu Yang, how about we call a truce?"

He spoke with difficulty, knowing he was at the end of his rope. His defeat was only a matter of time.

Xu Yang’s expression was grim, his killing intent surging. He didn’t speak, merely continuing to apply pressure.

His bulging muscles strained against his robes, veins popping on his skin as Gang Qi poured out relentlessly.

"PFFT!"

Finally, Ma Jun’s strength gave out. The long saber sliced open his head, drawing a red line down from between his eyebrows.

His body stiffened, and in the next moment, he split in two and collapsed, his entrails spilling all over the ground.

Ma Jun, a master of Gang Qi Great Success, had been decisively slain!

’So hard to kill. He’s finally dead.’

Xu Yang planted his saber in the ground and searched the two halves of the corpse, finding a money pouch. Inside were around a thousand taels in silver banknotes and some twenty-odd contribution points.

’I wonder what Xiao Hua promised him to come and kill me. This is a real problem now.’

His face was grim. He could only hope that by disposing of the body well, Xiao Hua wouldn’t suspect him, buying him some time.

He walked over to the iron cage and smashed the white mouse inside to death.

’I don’t know how to use this thing, so it’s best to kill it. But I can’t leave it here.’

He returned to Ma Jun’s corpse, blasted a large pit in the ground, and buried Ma Jun’s entrails.

Then, he carried the two halves of the body and ran for several miles. He struck out with his palms repeatedly until Ma Jun was reduced to a meat paste, completely destroying the corpse and eliminating all traces.

’Do you think you’re the only ones who know how to kill?’

He ripped off his outer clothes, revealing a black outfit underneath. ’Ambush and kill, is it? I can do that too.’

With Ma Jun dead, even if Xiao Hua didn’t suspect him and thought it was an accident, he would surely send more people. Right now, the only way for Xu Yang to protect himself was to rapidly increase his strength.

To rapidly increase his strength, he needed resources. And if he had no resources, he would have to plunder them.

’I don’t know them anyway. If others can rob and kill, why can’t I?’

’Besides, I have grudges with people like Gu Haoming, Lu Ren, and Liu Qian. I’d have to kill them even if it wasn’t for the resources.’

’Then there’s Cao Rong, Guo Huai, and An Ping. I can kill them too. In short, I’ll kill whoever I run into. It doesn’t matter who dies, as long as I live.’

Tying a black cloth over his face, leaving only his eyes exposed, Xu Yang charged toward the main path, radiating killing intent.

With his face covered, he too could be a bandit.