Chapter 462: Chapter 395: Jianghu Shares This Autumn
Cui Changqing was extremely embarrassed, his face burning. As one of the Four Great Swordsmen of Jiangnan, doing bad things was one thing, but to make such a slip of the tongue was truly humiliating.
This included Tao Zhengren and Pei Tianyuan, who both felt embarrassed for Cui Changqing. As fellow members of the Four Great Swordsmen of Jiangnan, Cui Changqing’s disgrace at this critical moment practically tarnished their reputation.
However, the two were also somewhat puzzled. Cui Changqing was very shrewd; after years of interacting with them, he had never revealed a flaw.
Why was he so flustered today?
It wasn’t that Cui Changqing was incompetent; it was that Gao Xuan and the others arrived too quickly, leaving him completely unprepared.
In fact, Pei Tianyuan and Tao Zhengren, riding the Red Blooded Steed, took a different path under Gao Xuan’s guidance.
The Red Blooded Steed’s strength was too overwhelming; although Gao Xuan and the others took a slight detour, they arrived a step ahead of Cui Changqing.
This was something Cui Changqing could never have imagined.
On the other hand, Gao Xuan’s spiritual power was formidable. The invisible spiritual suppression had actually crushed Cui Changqing’s resolve. Caught off guard, he misspoke with just one line.
Upon saying this, Cui Changqing knew that any further explanation was meaningless. He sighed and said, "Brothers, I did this out of desperation. The Feihua Sect caught hold of my weaknesses and threatened me. If I didn’t comply, my reputation would be ruined, and I wouldn’t be able to stand on my own..."
"How many beauties abducted by the Feihua Sect have you tortured and killed?"
Gao Xuan sneered, "You claim coercion, but what about those miserably dead girls? What about their grieving families?"
He said calmly, "If you could wash your hands clean, there would be no evil in the world."
Tao Zhengren and Pei Tianyuan originally intended to plead on his behalf, but upon hearing Gao Xuan’s words, they couldn’t bring themselves to speak.
The Feihua Sect’s actions were so heinous that no matter how Cui Changqing tried to explain, it would always sound dubious.
Deep down, the two upheld the path of righteousness with a sense of justice. Although they wanted to consider Cui Changqing, they couldn’t go overboard.
The Way of Righteousness is like this; if everyone acted recklessly, what righteousness would be left? Without this breath of righteousness, their sects would lose their foundation.
Gao Xuan didn’t give Cui Changqing a chance; he said, "You should turn your sword on yourself. Even if you die fighting against the Feihua Sect, you could still maintain a good name after death."
Cui Changqing tightened his grip on the sword; he absolutely did not want to commit suicide. But just Gao Xuan alone wasn’t someone he could contend with, and with Tao Zhengren and Pei Tianyuan present, he had no chance at all.
He drew his sword and placed it across his neck, but he couldn’t bring himself to commit suicide.
After hesitating a moment, Cui Changqing suddenly raised his hand and shot a volley of poison needles at Gao Xuan.
All these poison needles were fired from a wrist-mounted syringe, the attack was concealed and incredibly fast.
Gao Xuan didn’t dodge; he swept his long sleeve, sending out gang qi like a wall. The dozens of poison needles shot at him were repelled by his gang qi and flew back even faster.
Just as Cui Changqing was about to follow up with an attack, dozens of poison needles shot back at him, leaving dozens of penetrating holes in his face and body.
He let out a tragic cry and fell to the ground dead on the spot.
The entire exchange happened very quickly; from Cui Changqing’s surprise attack to his skyward demise, it all took place in the blink of an eye.
Pei Tianyuan initially intended to intervene, but before he could speak, Cui Changqing was already a corpse.
Pei Tianyuan was not concerned with Cui Changqing’s corpse; he was staring at Gao Xuan with shock written on his face: "Innate Gang Qi?!"
Tao Zhengren also realized, Gao Xuan’s qi spread like a wall, reflecting back all the poison needles like a strong crossbow; wasn’t this the legendary Innate Gang Qi?
Internal power had reached this stage, where acquired internal power transforms into the boundless Innate Gang Qi. Immune to all poisons, unaffected by water and fire, impervious to blade and spear.
Tao Zhengren still found it hard to believe, for Gao Xuan’s internal power was only second-tier just days ago. Even if he mastered the Fish and Dragon Hundred Transformations, it wouldn’t be this exaggerated, would it?
Gao Xuan nodded slightly, "Hero Pei’s keen eyes have discerned correctly, it is indeed Gang Qi."
He then said to the shocked Tao Zhengren, "I must thank Hero Tao for your assistance. I only managed to break through the Ren and Du Meridians by luck."
Gao Xuan spoke lightly, leaving Pei Tianyuan and Tao Zhengren speechless.
In Jianghu, there are many experts, but true masters who have cultivated Innate Gang Qi number no more than five.
Gao Xuan, at his young age, has already opened the Ren and Du Meridians, cultivated Innate Gang Qi, and become a Martial Arts Grandmaster! Such an achievement is simply astounding, unprecedented, and unrivaled.
After recovering from their shock, Tao Zhengren and Pei Tianyuan felt a sense of loss. At twenty-something, he had become a grandmaster, while they, in their forties and fifties, were merely first-class. The gap was too vast.
Looking back at Cui Changqing’s corpse, they felt truly pitiable.
He plotted against a Martial Arts Grandmaster and sought his own death... and his death was somewhat laughable. He might as well have just turned the sword on himself. At least his death would’ve been more heroic.
Gao Xuan had no time for their emotions; he said, "You two go make the necessary post-event arrangements. I’m going to eliminate the Feihua Sect."
Regarding this division of labor, Tao Zhengren and Pei Tianyuan had no objections at all.
Not to mention just one Feihua Sect, even ten would not stop a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
With a sweep of his sleeve, Gao Xuan elegantly arrived at the front gate of Bright Moon Manor.
At this moment, he no longer needed to disguise his identity; walking with air under his feet, an inch off the ground. Just this inch of distance placed him at the pinnacle of martial arts, with no one left in the world to challenge him.
There were two guards at the entrance of Bright Moon Manor; as dawn broke, they drowsily hid in the gatehouse. Upon seeing someone approaching, they were still a bit dazed.
One of them frowned and asked, "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"
Bright Moon Manor was far from the city, hiding illicit secrets within. Outsiders were absolutely not allowed to approach.
Even the farmers and fishermen near Bright Moon Manor were people from the Feihua Sect. Any strangers entering this area would raise the Feihua Sect’s alarm.