Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Qingfeng Stronghold!

Ever since their leader, Tang Chuan, had raised his banner here to enforce justice on behalf of Heaven, the men of Qingfeng Stronghold had been living the good life.

At the beginning of each month, the smaller families of Cyan Yang City would deliver their protection money. Their days were normally spent drinking and feasting; they only had to take action on the rare occasion an unfamiliar merchant caravan passed through, or when a family failed to show proper deference.

For instance, they had just robbed a shipment from the Yuan Family a few days ago. Since then, the leader had ordered everyone to remain on high alert, which meant no more drinking and feasting for anyone.

Inside Juyi Hall, the three leaders were gathered.

"First Brother, it’s been seven days, and the Yuan Family still hasn’t sent the money. Could they truly still be connected to Elder Li Yang?" The second-in-command, Lu Lin, wore a worried expression.

’If the Yuan Family really is still connected to Elder Li Yang, he’ll surely wipe Qingfeng Stronghold off the map.’

He had been against this from the start, but with First Brother ordering them to rob the Yuan Family’s goods, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Tang Chuan laughed. "Second Brother, relax. That Yuan Jie from the Yuan Family has been dead for years. Plenty of families in Cyan Yang City have cut ties with the Yuan Family without any consequences. If Elder Li Yang still cared about old times, how would any of them dare?"

"First Brother’s right. Second Brother, you’re just too cautious. If the stronghold is to grow, we can’t be so timid. What we do is a high-stakes game anyway; there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Even if Elder Li Yang does still hold some affection for that old connection to Yuan Jie, the worst that can happen is we just pack up and find a new place," the third-in-command, Meng Yuanshu, said with a laugh.

Lu Lin frowned. "I’m afraid we won’t even get the chance to find a new place."

’Elder Li Yang is not to be trifled with. If he really decides to stand up for the Yuan Family, even the strongest stronghold in the Yunling Mountain Range would be uprooted.’

Tang Chuan said, "Impossible. To the outside world, the three of us are only at Gang Qi Minor Achievement. Even if Elder Li Yang does get involved, the most he’ll do is send an Outer Disciple at Gang Qi Great Success.

But I’ve already reached Gang Qi Great Success. A single disciple at that level won’t be enough to handle us."

He wasn’t acting recklessly; he had calculated his escape route. If things went south, he could always run.

The Yuan Family’s business was substantial, with at least fifty to sixty thousand taels’ worth of goods transported through Qingfeng Ridge each month. He had been green with envy for a long time. As long as they could control the Yuan Family’s route, their monthly income would increase by at least a thousand taels.

Besides, Martial Artists are selfish. How could a high and mighty figure like Elder Li Yang still be cleaning up messes for the family of a disciple who died so many years ago?

’If the Purple Sun Sect had such sentimental and righteous Elders, so many of their disciples wouldn’t die each year. The hearts of those people are even more ruthless than ours.’

’Out of a class of 360 disciples, it’s a good outcome if even half of them are still alive after their three-year term as Outer Disciples is over.’

"Enemy attack—!"

"Get him!"

"Quick, report to the boss!"

...

Suddenly, furious shouts echoed throughout the stronghold.

’Did the Yuan Family really hire an expert from the Purple Sun Sect?’

The confident smile on Tang Chuan’s face vanished instantly.

Although he had prepared for the worst, he didn’t want to abandon Qingfeng Stronghold if he didn’t have to.

Grabbing the ghost-headed blade from his side, Tang Chuan rushed outside.

Arriving at the stronghold gate, he saw a figure moving like a bolt of lightning, speeding up the path from below. Arrows shot by his underlings whistled through the air, but every one of them missed their mark.

"Yellow Gang Qi?" Meng Yuanshu’s eyes widened.

As the figure charged forward, Gang Qi erupted, and a faint yellow light glowed beneath his feet. The color was completely different from normal Gang Qi.

"It’s Golden Gang Qi." Lu Lin’s heart sank.

Yellow and gold might sound similar, but their implications were worlds apart. He had once heard about this from a friend in the Jianghu.

Golden Gang Qi was incomparably tyrannical; ordinary Gang Qi would crumble on contact. A user at Gang Qi Minor Achievement could fight toe-to-toe with experts at Gang Qi Great Success. Only a few supreme Cultivation Techniques could produce Golden Gang Qi.

"Useless trash! Give me the bow!"

Tang Chuan snatched the bow and arrow from his subordinate’s hands, immediately infusing it with Gang Qi as he drew the string.

BOOM!

With a deafening crack, the Gang Qi-infused arrow shot out with a roar. Just as it was about to hit the figure charging up the mountain, the target suddenly accelerated, effortlessly dodging it.

BANG!

The Gang Qi-infused arrow embedded itself in solid rock, only its fletching still quivering.

"A Great Success Level Body Technique!" A grave look appeared in Meng Yuanshu’s eyes.

’So this is a genius from the Purple Sun Sect? To have mastered a Body Technique to the Great Success level at such a young age.’

They had been cultivating for ten, even twenty years, yet had not mastered any Martial Technique to the Great Success level.

"Don’t waste any more arrows. Let him come up," Tang Chuan shouted.

’With a Great Success Level Body Technique, no amount of arrows will hit him. We have to fight him up close.’

"Daring to storm our stronghold with only Gang Qi Minor Achievement? Are all the people from the Purple Sun Sect this arrogant?" Meng Yuanshu’s face twisted into a cruel sneer.

’I’ve never killed a genius from the Purple Sun Sect before.’

He never imagined the Purple Sun Sect would send a mere disciple at Gang Qi Minor Achievement. First Brother wouldn’t even need to act; he alone could kill this disciple.

BANG!

A few moments later, the stronghold’s main gate exploded, blasted open by brute force. Splinters flew everywhere as a figure, fierce as a tiger, charged through the gaping hole and into Qingfeng Stronghold.

"You dare storm Qingfeng Stronghold? Get him!"

Several bandits garrisoning the gate grabbed their blades, roaring as they unleashed a flurry of slashes.

Xu Yang’s expression was icy as he pointed a finger from across the distance.

Pure Essence Gold-Splitting Finger!

Gang Qi flared. The Finger Force, condensed to its absolute limit, tore through the air and shot forward with a piercing shriek.

PSHFFT!

PSHFFT!

PSHFFT!

Three consecutive sounds of flesh being pierced rang out. A hole appeared in the head of the foremost bandit, light visible straight through it. His charge came to a sudden, rigid halt.

Behind him, two more bandits also had holes punched clean through their bodies. They screamed as they collapsed, lifeless, to the ground.