Why do I have so many masters?

The sound of a scream caught Qu Kang’an’s attention, and he looked up just in time to see his junior brother being flung out like a rag doll, his decades of Poison Skill already broken, spitting blood from his mouth, with a weak, languid breath, nearly dead.

Gongsun Jing, on the other hand, was holding a spear, spinning it around, blocking the Blade Madman from stepping forward and delivering an additional strike.

The tip of the spear he held was filled with vigorous Qi, sketching to the left and right, forming a visible anomaly, madly striking forward, so fierce it chilled one’s spine.

Having reached the Sixth Rank of cultivation long ago, Qu Kang’an could tell at a glance that this Gang Leader of the Giant Whale Gang was truly mobilizing his full Inner Strength, not pretending or faking as he had previously suspected. Each move and style was filled with murderous intent, clearly a top-tier Martial Arts, utilizing his full strength.

Suddenly, with a loud shout, the spear tip vibrated and spun out.

The spear, like a dragon’s tooth, collided with the blade of the Mo Blade, sparking a ring of dazzling sparks. Wang Anfeng seized the opportunity to leap up, spinning around, with the blade of his Mo Blade covering his head, attacking Gongsun Jing in a seemingly effortless yet menacing manner, making Qu Kang’an feel a chill in his heart.

Gongsun Jing gripped the spear with both hands, parrying upward, and barely ’managed’ to block this strike, his face turning pale, evidently containing a force unimaginable to others.

A chorus of exclamations arose as Gongsun Jing summoned his Inner Strength, striking his own internal organs, pretending to be injured, then while others were distracted, he mobilized a portion of his Inner Strength, forcefully stomping on the ground.

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard, and numerous fierce cracks formed under Gongsun Jing’s feet.

Seemingly unable to withstand the force on the blade, Gongsun Jing’s body suddenly shook, the cracks beneath him moving, completely fragmenting.

The solid earth was violently shaken, raising several meters of dust, within which it was not clear, one could only hear more and more frequent clashes of blades, the visible ripples in the air continuously vibrating.

Whatever neared those ripples would be instantly slashed into pieces.

The ripples themselves were anomalies caused by the collision of Qi from two Middle Third Rank Martial Artists in fierce battle, which even sharp weapons and armor could hardly withstand.

Hearing the increasingly urgent and high-pitched sounds, Qu Kang’an felt a compulsion to intervene and then recalled his previous suspicions at the inn concerning Gongsun Jing. Even now, at over seventy years old, he felt a mix of shame and admiration.

Jianghu was perilous, yet he never thought he would encounter such bold and sincere individuals, who, despite knowing each other only briefly, would willingly draw their swords to assist.

And he had just measured the noble intentions of such a man with a villain’s mindset.

It was truly inappropriate.

With this thought in mind, it became impossible for him to remain a bystander. With a flick of his right hand, he pulled out a longsword from nowhere, tapped the ground with his toes, and his body swiftly rushed upward, his wrist vibrating, casting cold light everywhere, enveloping Wang Anfeng’s vital points, and at the same time, he cried out:

"Take out the treasure, set up the formation!"

"Gang Leader Gongsun, fear not, for I am here!"

Meanwhile, Mei Feng and another person each held an object, seeming like edicts but also entirely made of jade, evidently extraordinary.

At the same time, Qu Kang’an had already reached Wang Anfeng’s side, his longsword pointed at the latter, his left hand swung out an item, throwing it to Gongsun Jing, shouting:

"Catch it!"

Gongsun Jing could not help but inwardly curse, raising his hand to catch what turned out to be an elixir.

Qu Kang’an once again spoke out,

"Gang Leader Gongsun, quickly take the antidote!"

Gongsun Jing’s expression changed slightly. He then pinched off the wax seal from the elixir with his fingers and swallowed it. Qu Kang’an did not see the change on Gongsun Jing’s face. He withdrew his left hand, gathered his full Inner Strength, and fiercely slapped toward Wang Anfeng.

This move, combining both sword and palm, elusive in its feint and real strikes, was a top-notch martial art from the Immortal Pavilion.

Upon seeing this, Gongsun Jing’s heart skipped a beat.

He had been exchanging blows with Wang Anfeng, even appearing at a disadvantage, but it was merely a ruse he played. Now, facing this old man, more formidable than himself, unleashing his full power, wouldn’t Young Master’s martial arts be put to the test?

With force, he gripped the weapon in his right hand, only planning to attack the moment the old man realized something amiss. Catching him off-guard, he would launch a strong offensive from behind and leave this Great Elder of the Immortal Pavilion right here.

However, he did not expect that Wang Anfeng, when faced with the high-level attack, would neither retreat nor dodge. His right hand parried with the blade while his left hand discreetly channeled Inner Strength through his meridians, confronting Qu Kang’an with a direct palm strike.

Gongsun Jing’s face suddenly changed drastically, nearly exclaiming aloud.

Another Elder of the Immortal Pavilion inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile involuntarily appearing at the corner of his mouth.

This matter is settled...

Mei Feng pursed his lips, but his mind could not help but recall the sight of Wang Anfeng chopping down the Jade Flood Dragon with his saber days before, causing him to feel a pang of trepidation and unease.

With a booming explosion, the vigorous Qi surged from where Wang Anfeng and Gongsun Jing’s palms met, like a dragon’s breath. Their previous exchanges had already shattered the surrounding grounds into pieces. Now, swept by this Qi wave, it turned into a black tornado, soaring into the sky.

Originally prepared to act, Gongsun Jing’s eyes flashed with a different color and he stopped his right hand. Instead, he swept backwards several meters.

Within the tornado, Wang Anfeng’s complexion was only slightly pale, and he had changed his appearance with a rare item, showing no visible differences. Qu Kang’an’s face, however, underwent several changes, seeming somewhat incredulous. He had exerted eighty percent of his Inner Strength, but it felt like pouring water into an abyss, deep and unfathomable, without creating even a ripple.

The old man’s face had turned pale.

This indicated that the young man’s Inner Strength was even deeper than his own.

With this thought, filled with shock and disbelief, he lost all combat will. He bellowed and hastily retreated dozens of meters, breath heaving rapidly. Just as Mei Feng and another were about to use their treasures, their expressions subtly changed and they called out, Experience exclusive tales on NovelBin.Côm

"Great Elder?!"

The old man raised his hand, stopping them. He watched the front with an uncertain face as the black tornado, no longer supported by Vigorous Qi, slowly dissipated. The dark-clad young martial artist stood firm among it, holding a blade in his right hand and slowly lowering his left, his demeanor calm and poised, making Qu Kang’an’s heart finally sink to the abyss. He urgently said,

"Let’s go, hurry!"

Mei Feng and his companion’s expressions shifted slightly, and on the other side, Gongsun Jing loudly howled, grabbing the Second Elder who had been knocked out. He leapt into the air and landed on a horse beside the station. The horse neighed loudly as Gongsun Jing placed the old man in front of him on the horse’s back and called out loudly,

"Brother Qu, move quickly!"

"This person is formidable, we are no match..."

Upon seeing this, Qu Kang’an breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He couldn’t abandon his own disciple, but given the situation just now, if they had turned back, it was very likely that both of them would be kept behind by the Blade Madman.

At this moment, Gongsun Jing took his disciple away, which made Qu Kang’an feel a lot of gratitude toward him, and he shouted:

"Then thank you very much, Brother Gongsun. We will get in touch later!"

"Take care!"

Having said that, he bid farewell to Mei Feng and another person, no longer caring about those ordinary disciples, and used his movement technique to soar into the air. In the blink of an eye, he had disappeared. Gongsun Jing, sitting on his horse, looked at the unconscious, heavily injured old man on the horseback and rubbed his chin.

His gaze uncontrollably wandered over the old man’s chest, forehead, and throat as he murmured to himself.

If he just cleaved with a sword, it seemed a bit wasteful...

According to the Great Marshal, this was a rare commodity that could fetch a high price.

Though thoughts churned in his mind, his face showed none of it; he raised his right hand, took a robust bow from the saddle.

He pulled the bow and shot a few arrows in Wang Anfeng’s direction as a delay tactic, then took the elder, who was like a dead dog, and rode away.

The horse was quite extraordinary, and the road was smooth. In just a moment, their figures were out of sight. Regretful sighs came from among the watching martial artists, and the man with the knife shook his head regretfully before looking again in Wang Anfeng’s direction.

But he saw that the latter was still just standing there, looking utterly composed, and couldn’t help but praise inwardly.

Indeed, he lives up to his fierce reputation!

Wang Anfeng, expressionless, slowly lowered his left hand.

Overeaten again...

Inside his body, the Inner Strength that had been circulating in the route of the Fourth Level of the Golden Bell Shield started to change direction now, moving into the path of the Fifth Level. His previous exchange with Gongsun Jing had been exhilarating, and the combat will he stimulated had peaked with a slash. He had naturally stepped into it.

But this time, there was no variety of phenomena like before, such as the Golden Bell Body Protection, Blazing Gold Script.

No phenomena were actually the biggest phenomenon.

All phenomena are not phenomena.

All phenomena are void.

Wang Anfeng exhaled and placed the Mo Blade on his back.

He had restrained the Mixed Yuan Skill and had not completely absorbed the old man, but even so, he had absorbed quite pure Vital Energy, which momentarily blocked his meridians, preventing him from acting and forcing him to maintain an indifferent appearance.

At this moment, the massive Vital Energy that should have blocked his meridians was being rapidly absorbed and transformed into his own foundation, allowing him to stabilise his current realm at a rapid pace.

Yet, there was still something that was not satisfying...

If one’s understanding isn’t deep enough, the cultivation won’t be complete.

Wang Anfeng slightly closed his eyes, questioning himself.

........................

Beside him, Mu Shanxue watched Wang Anfeng close his eyes and stand on the battlefield, yawned lazily, casually patted the grey donkey underneath, and without saying a word to Wang Anfeng, turned around and headed toward Guangfeng City.

Next to the station, curious martial artists couldn’t help but whisper:

"Isn’t the Taoist going to get to know this senior?"

Mu Shanxue lazily opened his eyes and casually said:

"I came for pleasure, and leave when it’s over..."

"Why bother to get acquainted?"

The few martial artists who heard this were slightly stunned, but their faces instinctively showed some respect, feeling that this handsome Taoist who rode a grey donkey in reverse, although slothful, indeed had some depth to his cultivation—enigmatic and profound—they couldn’t help but move aside to give him room to pass.

Mu Shanxue closed his eyes again and rode the donkey away.

Passing those few people, he secretly rolled his eyes in a place where no one could see.

If it weren’t for the monthly check by the law enforcement elder on the Jianghu news he collected, he wouldn’t bother coming here.

And... who knows how long that guy would still take.

Can’t wait, can’t wait.

This handsome Taoist yawned lazily.

And besides, so sleepy...

PS: First update today...

Thanks to Fa Hai Lei Yin for the ten thousand rewards, much appreciated.