Chapter 137

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Chapter 137: Intercepting the Escape

The Imperial Capital is the largest city in the Zhong Province, but even in the most bustling city, there are still desolate slums and uninhabited areas in the outskirts.

And at that moment.

Sword Ghost stepped quickly, leaping and moving rapidly on the rooftops of brick houses, his figure blurred into a lingering shadow as he escaped swiftly.

His heart pounded, and all he could think of was the old face of the old man who sold paintings just now.

"That old man just now, there’s something wrong, something really wrong. What does it mean to have weakened energy and blood?"

He felt annoyed in his heart.

Aging in old age is a natural law that ordinary people cannot escape, only cultivators who have transcended the realm of ordinary mortals can be an exception.

But that old man is clearly not a cultivator, and it seems that he is not a fully accomplished martial artist in spiritual refining either.

The old martial artist, who is advanced in age, is actually very strong.

For example, Sword Ghost has also heard that there was once an elderly martial arts master over eighty years old, whose blood had weakened, but his sword skills were extraordinary. He defeated a Second-Rank martial artist from the imperial court using only a wooden sword.

But there’s a condition for that.

This elderly master, Lu Yanbei, reached a very high level in his skills. In his prime, he was also a Spiritual Refining martial artist. Although his blood had declined, his skills and mental strength didn’t weaken at all.

Moreover, Sword Ghost heard that the fight at that time was a sparring between martial artists, not a life-or-death battle.

If it were a real battle to the death, the outcome is still unknown.

It is a rule among martial artists that youth is feared in combat. Even martial artists who practice the Long Life Fist can only try their best to maintain their blood and energy.

"Where did this old monster come from?"

The Sword Ghost felt a sudden shock in his heart and stopped in his tracks.

Before him, a faint figure gradually appeared, and it was the old man who sold paintings before.

"I don’t even have the qualification to use the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method and Red Moon Burning Blood Technique."

Qiao Mu frowned, the Sword Ghost’s lightness skill was not particularly outstanding, only slightly stronger than the two swordsman earlier.

He chased after him from behind, and even before he had a chance to use the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method, he caught up to him.

"Looking at it this way, my physical blood and energy have indeed increased quite a bit in these thirty years…" Qiao Mu muttered to himself.

After the 4th rank, it is the Spiritual Refining Method, because at this point, further accumulating blood and internal strength would have very little effect.

The Spiritual Refining Method is the righteous path for martial artists.

Therefore, on this path, Qiao Mu, who has practiced the "Xumi Mountain King Sutra" to the fifth level, can be said to be alone and has not found any other martial artist to compare with.

Originally, I wanted to test my skills with this Sword Ghost that sounds a bit formidable, but who knew that the opponent’s intuition was too strong. They didn’t even have the intention to fight and immediately ran away.

"Why are you forcing me so much, old man? Obviously, my Eye Attacking Technique didn’t hurt you. You’re not injured at all."

Sword Ghost’s expression changed a bit at this moment. After thinking for a while, he said:

"Actually, I am a member of the Martial Arts League…"

Hearing this, the old man paused and showed a curious expression on his face.

"What is this Martial Arts League? I’ve never heard of it. I’ve only heard of the Wuji Association. Is this Martial Arts League powerful?" he asked curiously.

Sword Ghost’s complexion improved slightly. As long as they didn’t immediately take action, there was still hope. So he said seriously:

"This Martial Arts League is not simple."

"It is a martial arts organization established by ‘King Qin,’ who embodies the combination of martial arts and enlightenment."

"The Wuji Association, established during Martial Saint’s lifetime, pursued the utmost in martial arts. However, after Martial Saint’s death, the Wuji Association went into hiding and declined."

"And our ‘King Qin’ is the one who carries the torch of martial arts in this era after Martial Saint’s passing! He has ‘martial arts enlightenment’!"

This statement subtly belittled both Martial Saint and the Wuji Association.

Qiao Mu immediately became interested.

He never expected to hear the term ‘martial arts enlightenment’ from the mouth of Sword Ghost.

‘Martial arts enlightenment’ had always been a vague and elusive legend.

"What does ‘martial arts enlightenment’ mean?" he asked.

"Those who achieve martial arts enlightenment can cultivate the Martial Arts Golden Body, breaking the limits of the human body. No blade or spear can harm them, and they are impervious to fire and water!" Sword Ghost declared proudly.

"The influence of the Wuji Association spreads throughout Jiu Province, but there are also many mediocre martial artists among them. However, my Martial Arts League is different."

"Only martial artists with Spirit Refining ability are qualified to join the Martial Arts League, and naturally, they are all top elites."

"Embarking on the Spiritual Refining Method is also one of the prerequisites for achieving mastery in martial arts."

After Sword Ghost described the greatness of the Martial Arts League, he noticed the increasingly curious expression in the old man’s eyes.

A sense of unease arose in his heart.

He heard the old man sigh and say, "So, you guys are this strong, then I…"

"Don’t worry."

A cold light pierced the night sky, like a comet streaking across.

The old man held a long spear that resembled a dragon, pointing it straight at Sword Ghost’s forehead.

His movements were extremely fast, and his strength was tremendous. But what amazed people was that this long spear thrust had not even made a sound, as if it had merged with the air.

Qiao Mu’s Military Spear Skill can be said to be one of the earliest and relatively simple spear techniques.

Now at the age of ninety, his Military Spear Skill has reached perfection, being the only technique that has reached such level among all the martial arts and skills.

The strong intuition warned him, and the Sword Ghost desperately dodged to the side before the old man thrust the long spear.

The long spear narrowly grazed the Sword Ghost’s scalp, emitting a sharp aura that cut off a section of his messy hair, leaving a long bloody mark on his scalp, with blood quickly oozing out.

"Is it the intuition of a Spirit Refining martial artist?" Qiao Mu muttered to himself.

Although the "Martial Saint Spiritual Technique" also gave him sharp intuition, it was not a true Spiritual Refining Technique, so it was sometimes effective and sometimes not, and it also had the side effect of being sensed by other cultivators’ intuition.

The Sword Ghost hurriedly dodged Qiao Mu’s spear, feeling a chilling sensation on his head, followed by intense pain.

"So fast… that spear from the old man earlier was not just about speed…"

The speed of his movements indicated that the old man’s physical strength was definitely not weak, perhaps even stronger than that of the Sword Ghost, a third-rank young man.

When he was uncertain and puzzled, he could only hear the old man’s feeble voice in front of him.

"All along, I have had a tiny doubt about what advantages Spirit Refining martial artists have over other martial artists."

"You can fully utilize your learned skills and rely on your instincts as a Spirit Refining martial artist. Let me observe closely."

Under the night sky, the moon gently cast its light on the tiled roof of the house. The old man, despite his wrinkles and old age, had bright eyes. The sharp tip of his long spear reflected a chilling cold light in the moonlight.

"Next, I will stab your left shoulder," calmly said the old man.

There was no murderous intent in his eyes, only thick curiosity.