Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"Can you escape?" Xu Yang’s voice rang out like a Life-Shortening Talisman.

The stall owner in the monkey mask felt a piercing whistle from behind, followed by a scorching wave of heat.

Before he could even dodge, his vision tumbled, and he saw blood spray before his eyes.

’My head... it’s been chopped off.’

Through his fading vision, he saw his own headless corpse gushing blood as it slowly toppled to the ground. Then, his consciousness faded to black.

’Run!’

The spear-wielding man’s courage shattered. He hadn’t been killed by the single strike, but his chest was a mangled ruin of flesh and blood, his organs visible within.

But the potent Life Energy of a Gang Qi Great Success Martial Artist prevented him from immediately losing his ability to move. After using his Gang Qi to stanch the bleeding, he propped himself up with his long spear and fled.

’The Blazing Blade... he’s even more fearsome than the rumors claimed.’

The rumors said the Blazing Blade had fought a pitched battle with Ma Jun before finally killing him. But the Blazing Blade they had just encountered slaughtered experts at the Gang Qi Great Success level as if they were nothing more than chickens and dogs.

"Die!"

Xu Yang’s expression was glacial. He swept through the woods like a fierce gale, a searing heatwave rolling in his wake.

A pale golden Sword Gang cascaded through the forest like a waterfall, suffused with a sharp, piercing aura.

"Mercy!"

The spear-wielding man sensed the attack from behind and spun around to parry with his long spear.

PSHCHT!

The flash of the blade passed. The long spear, along with the man’s body, was cleaved in two, sending a shower of blood and a wisp of vapor into the air.

The spear-wielding man shuddered. His face turned ashen as he looked down to see his body split in two before he collapsed to the ground, dead.

Xu Yang retracted the Sword Gang, the killing intent in his eyes slowly fading.

With his Cultivation of Gang Qi Great Success, he could slaughter experts of the same realm as if they were chickens and dogs, even without using his Golden Gang Skill. He had just slain two such masters effortlessly.

After collecting his spoils of war, Xu Yang returned to the Purple Sun Sect.

The next day, the entire Outer Sect was abuzz with news that the Blazing Blade had killed again. This time, his victims were two masters at the Gang Qi Great Success level.

By now, Xu Yang had already made his way to Cyan Yang City and arrived at the Yuan Family estate.

Whether or not he became Elder Li Yang’s disciple in the future, he wasn’t about to pass up the two hundred taels and one Profound Yuan Qi Transformation Pill the Yuan Family had promised him each month.

"Brother Xu, if you hadn’t shown up soon, I was about to have someone deliver this to you at the Purple Sun Sect," Yuan Yi said with a smile, ushering Xu Yang into the hall and serving tea.

Xu Yang smiled. "I had some business in the city, so I thought I’d stop by."

A short while later, Yuan Gang also appeared.

He was accompanied by a young woman with a delicate, pretty face, who was looking Xu Yang up and down.

Yuan Gang chuckled. "Fellow Xu, this is my youngest daughter, Yuan Sujie. She is also an Outer Disciple of the Purple Sun Sect. Please look after her when you’re both at the sect."

Yuan Sujie stepped forward and spoke gracefully, "I am Yuan Sujie. It is a pleasure to meet you, Brother Xu. I hope you will look after me in the future."

Xu Yang rose and clasped his hands. "Patriarch Yuan. Junior Sister Yuan."

He had almost no contact with the female disciples at the Purple Sun Sect, so he had never met Yuan Sujie before.

After some small talk, he learned that Yuan Sujie had studied pharmacology and Spirit Medicine cultivation since childhood. Though also an Outer Disciple, she rarely spent time in the Outer Sect, instead passing most of her days on Medicine King Peak helping the Pill Masters care for their Spirit Medicines.

"Patriarch Yuan," Xu Yang began, "I wish to purchase a stalk of Pure Yang Grass. It’s difficult to find in apothecaries, and I was wondering if the Yuan Family might have one."

This was his true reason for visiting the Yuan Family.

Since he was cooperating with the Yuan Family, it was only natural to leverage their influence.

The Yuan Family’s main business was in beast hides, but he knew that in Cyan Yang City, any family with a modicum of power also dabbled in acquiring medicinal herbs.

Yuan Gang frowned slightly. "Fellow Xu, what do you need Pure Yang Grass for?"

Pure Yang Grass was a primary ingredient for both the Guiyuan Pill and the Ten-Perfection Rejuvenation Pill, making it a rarity on the market.

Regardless of its scarcity, those who sought Pure Yang Grass were typically Pill Masters. While one could raise their Cultivation by consuming it directly, almost no one ever did.

The medicinal energy of Pure Yang Grass was scorching. Unless one practiced a Supreme Yang Technique, consuming it would have little effect. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Xu Yang had already prepared an excuse. "I am cultivating a Supreme Yang Martial Arts technique and require Pure Yang Grass to aid my progress."

Hearing this, Yuan Gang’s brow relaxed. "We do have Pure Yang Grass, but it is all being collected on behalf of the Purple Sun Sect. I cannot give you much, but I can spare a single stalk."

This was how families like theirs secured their quota of Elixirs from the Purple Sun Sect—by trading resources.

Xu Yang rose and clasped his hands. "Thank you, Patriarch."

’From the sound of it, this is a one-time offer.’

’Still, after I refine one more batch of Gathering Essence Pills, I should be on the verge of breaking through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. I might still be a little short, but not by much.’

Yuan Gang smiled. "We’re practically family now. There’s no need for such formalities. Yi’er, go and fetch a stalk of Pure Yang Grass."

Yuan Yi rose and left, returning shortly with a box.

After taking the box, Xu Yang bid his farewell and departed.

Yuan Gang turned to Yuan Sujie. "Sujie, your brother and I were thinking of arranging a marriage between you and Xu Yang. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Having his daughter meet Xu Yang was not, of course, so they could become mere friends. The only way to truly bind the interests of the family and its Tributor was through marriage.

Yuan Sujie replied, "I will follow your decision, Father. However, I doubt Xu Yang would be interested in me. Besides, I’ve heard rumors about him at the Purple Sun Sect."

"When he was in Qingyuan, plenty of powerful families sought to arrange a marriage with him, but he refused them all."

"If you don’t trust him, Father, and feel that you can only rest easy if he marries me... I’m afraid that approach will not work."

As a woman, she could already tell that Xu Yang had no interest in her.

Yuan Gang frowned. "He comes from a family of farmers. How dare he look down on you?"

He was displeased. He had been gracious enough to overlook Xu Yang’s peasant origins, and now Xu Yang had the audacity to look down on his daughter?