Chapter 138

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Chapter 138: The Qiao Family’s Hidden Elders Appear!

In the outskirts of the Imperial Capital under the cover of night.

A silhouette of a swordsman swiftly moved on the eaves of the house.

This swordsman got injured, and there was blood falling from time to time. He kept looking back and was quite scared.

"This Imperial Capital is indeed full of hidden talents." He couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

"The praying mantis catches the cicada, while the oriole lurks behind. Who knows, in the end, the cicada almost swallowed the oriole."

"I don’t know where this strong old man came from. He seems to be around ninety years old…"

The swordsman was extremely shocked.

He had originally intended to take the risk and snatch the Blood Moon Chart from the Sword Ghost, but he didn’t expect it would cost his brother’s life. From now on, it seems that he might be the only one known as "Flying Snow Blade," instead of "Flying Snow Double Blades."

Just as he was feeling emotional, a voice suddenly came to his ears.

"What praying mantis? Who is the praying mantis? And who is this ninety-year-old man?"

The swordsman was almost scared out of his wits. He quickly turned his head and saw a burly man in black clothes and a black cloak draped over his shoulders, running on the eaves together with him.

The strangest thing is that this person in black robes is not fast or slow, just at the same speed as him. And even after saying this sentence, he remains calm and composed, showing no signs of breathing heavily.

"After the yellow sparrow, there is actually a child holding a slingshot?"

This swordsman, named "Flying Snow Blade," is too scared to speak. In his heart, he is extremely terrified. He quickly changes direction and clenches his teeth, forcing himself to use the "Blood Shadow Technique" to continue fleeing.

"You haven’t answered my question yet," the person in the black robe says calmly. They are less than a meter away from each other, almost side by side. No matter how fast the Flying Snow Blade runs, it cannot increase the distance between them by even a slight bit.

It is important to know that the strength of a Spirit Refining martial artist lies in their mental power. So, even though this Spirit Refining martial artist called the Sword Ghost may not be much better than the Flying Snow Blade in lightness skills.

In contrast, the Flying Snow Blade uses a secret technique to increase its running speed by thirty to forty percent more than usual. Not even the Sword Ghost can catch up. Now, the person in the black robe seems to be handling it with ease.

The Flying Snow Blade looks at the person in the black robe and suddenly remembers something. Instantly, all hope seems to vanish, and they stop in their tracks.

"So it’s the number one divine capturer in the world, the person with the best lightness skills, Mr. Wei En Wei. This time, I’ve lost."

He says in despair.

In his heart, he felt a bit resentful.

Whether it’s the Sword Ghost or martial artist like Wei En who refines their spirit, fighting is no longer just about fists and kicks, but also about the clash of their minds.

Wei En deliberately showed off his light skills to taunt him, clearly not to show off in front of others, but to overpower his mind and attack him mentally.

It must be said that this mental attack strategy is extremely effective.

Because Wei En is extraordinary, not only is he the best in light skills, but he is also one of the few 1st ranked martial artists in the Great Yan Imperial Court!

A person’s reputation casts a shadow on others.

Even a Sword Ghost at the 3rd rank of the Spiritual Refining Period left Flying Snow Blade almost defenseless with the Flying Snow Blade, let alone Wei En who is already at the 1st rank of the Spiritual Refining Period?

Unable to win the fight and unable to escape, what else could he do?

After recognizing who Wei En really was, Flying Snow Blade immediately lost any intention of being his enemy.

"Do you recognize me? Then let’s speak nicely." Wei En’s mouth slightly curved, revealing a chilly smile.

"The Imperial Capital is a hidden dragon and crouching tiger? Have you even considered where you are? How dare you run wild under the cover of night?"

This "Flying Snow Double Blades" is actually a wanted criminal from the Great Yan Imperial Court.

Killing for treasure and smuggling goods is not something new for him.

And today, running wild in the outskirts of the city, it seems like he hasn’t done anything good.

"Tell me, what happened?" Wei En stared into the eyes of the Flying Snow Blade, his gaze sharp like an eagle, as if he could see through his secrets and uncover all the hidden, dirty things in his heart.

As the number one divine hunter in the world, Wei En’s Eye Attacking Method is even more brilliant than the Sword Ghost.

"It’s the Sword Ghost, the Sword Ghost attacked an old man who sells paintings…"

Under the pressure of the Eye Attacking Technique, the immense pressure quickly made the Flying Snow Blade’s mind collapse and reveal his true thoughts, leaving Wei En lost in thought.

"A ninety-year-old man, suspected of suppressing the Sword Ghost, a third-ranking martial artist?"

Wei En was very knowledgeable.

So he knew how absurd this matter was.

Life at seventy is already rare, but a person in their nineties is extremely rare.

But the most rare thing is that there was a very strong old man, even able to overpower a 3rd rank martial artist.

After a famous expert named Lu Yanbei defeated a 2nd rank martial artist with a wooden sword back then, Lu Yanbei’s reputation and deeds quickly spread throughout Jiu Province.

And now, there is unexpectedly another powerful old man in his nineties who has appeared out of nowhere? It is likely that he will surely create some waves in the Imperial Capital!

Hold on… an old man with an unusually high age and profound martial arts skills.

Does this sound a bit oddly familiar?

Wei En frowned, suddenly remembering the exaggerated stories Qiao Zhong had told him during their previous interrogation.

This Qiao Zhong was actually a man in his sixties. With Wei En’s guiding questions, he made up a legend about a place called Taoyuan Land.

Qiao Zhong had once claimed that the Qiao family actually had many hidden elders who were even stronger than him.

According to the swordsman, even when the old man reached the age of ninety and his vitality had declined, he was able to suppress a Sword Ghost of the third rank spiritual power. If this was the case during his prime, one can only imagine what kind of monster he was…

"Could it be that one of the hidden elders of the Qiao family has appeared?" Wei En wondered, but then chuckled to himself:

"Hold on, didn’t I help Qiao Zhong come up with the story of the hidden elders of the Qiao family? How did I even start believing in it?"

He laughed at his own self-mockery and dismissed the thought. He then urged the Flying Snow Blade to lead the way towards Qiao Mu’s direction.

Regardless of anything else.

As a divine catcher, he couldn’t ignore the fact that there were spiritual refining Sword Ghosts robbing and looting during the night.

Wei En held the Flying Snow Blade in his hand and swiftly flew by like a big bird.

He could only hear the strong wind blowing by his ears as the Flying Snow Blade quickly disappeared into the distance, leaving him startled.

After a moment, they could faintly hear the sound of a battle ahead.

However, when they followed the sound, they saw a scene that even these experienced individuals didn’t expect. It was not the serious battle they had imagined…

At this moment.

The Sword Ghost was already covered in wounds, with several holes pierced through his chest and shoulders. His body was bleeding heavily, and he was gasping for breath, unable to hide his fatigue on his face.

The old man stood just two steps in front of the Sword Ghost, facing him.

"Are you ready?" the old man calmly said.

"Next, I will strike your left cheek."

As he spoke, his hand trembled and the long stick of the spear shook slightly, turning into a blurry image, swiftly aiming for Sword Ghost’s cheek.

The Sword Ghost’s pupils suddenly shrank, already trying to crouch down and dodge before Qiao Mu even made a move.

Guided by instinct, he "saw" the trajectory of the spear swinging in the air, feeling a strong sense of threat on his left cheek.

He bit his tongue and quickly crouched down.

However, the old man’s spear changed its move accordingly, sweeping horizontally to a diagonal slash, still very fast.

"Although he noticed the trajectory of the long spear, he just couldn’t dodge it!"

Sword Ghost felt a wave of helplessness welling up inside him. His pupils suddenly contracted, but he could only watch as the spear’s stick rapidly grew bigger in his field of vision.

With a cracking sound.

The Sword Ghost was sent flying two to three meters by the horizontal strike of the spear, several teeth were forcefully broken, and he fell from the air with a bloodstain in his mouth.

"Left shoulder." The old man didn’t stop, he swiftly moved forward and came to a stop one meter in front of Sword Ghost.

The long spear quickly aimed at Sword Ghost’s left shoulder and made a small hole in the flesh.

"Right arm." As fast as a dragon, the spear stabbed directly at Sword Ghost’s right arm.

"Left thigh."

"Left side of the waist."

"Right calf." The old man appeared very polite and didn’t attack aggressively.

Before every strike, he always shouted in advance.

If it weren’t for the few blood holes he actually pierced into Sword Ghost’s body, this scene would be like a martial arts master guiding a apprentice’s practice and testing their evasive skills!

"What…what are you doing?"

The swordsman, Flying Snow Blade, felt confused at first, but after watching the battle closely, he felt satisfied in his heart.

This Sword Ghost had killed his brother. Before, he had been quite arrogant in front of their Flying Snow Double Blades, easily avoiding their combined attack.

But now, in front of the old man, it felt like a master teaching a student, as he tried his best to dodge but had no fighting back power.

However, the more he looked closely, the more he felt scared in his heart.

While it was satisfying to see the Sword Ghost fail, their Flying Snow Double Blades had also targeted the old man, and now they had attracted such a terrifying enemy…

"What rank is this old man?" he couldn’t help asking Wei En beside him.

Wei En was a highly skilled martial artist with extensive knowledge. With his discerning eyes, he could probably see through the old man’s true abilities.

"Rank doesn’t matter anymore."

Wei En stared directly at Qiao Mu’s face.

After the age of ninety, Qiao Mu had mastered Wu Qizheng’s book "Flesh Changing Skill" to a small extent, no longer just makeup.

Today, when Qiao Mu appeared, he deliberately didn’t use makeup to change his appearance, but instead used "Flesh Changing Skill" to subtly alter his looks.

This means that the ninety-year-old Qiao Shuanglin now looks somewhat similar to the sixty-year-old Qiao Zhong.

"Could it be that he really is an elder of the Qiao family?" Condor Wei En’s mind was shaken, and even self-doubt arose.

"Could it be that what Qiao Zhong said that day wasn’t a lie? Does the Qiao family really have elders who are not only older but also more skilled in martial arts than him?"

As Wei En pondered, the situation on the field also changed.

"Enough! Until when will you keep humiliating me?"

The Sword Ghost’s eyes were bloodshot as he shouted,

"Elder, your physical body is very strong, and your spear speed is extremely fast, obviously surpassing the limits of a 4th rank martial artist, right?"

"Despite being very old, you have such an unusual body. Maybe you are related to those who pursue martial arts. Tonight, it seems like there might be chaos within the family…"

Qiao Mu’s gaze turned cold as he held a long spear to the throat of the Sword Ghost, without actually piercing it.

Through the previous test, he finally realized the strength of a 3rd rank Spirit Refining martial artist.

This keen intuition is truly useful, allowing a 3rd rank Spirit Refining martial artist to gain the upper hand against a 4th rank martial artist.

However… his speed was still a bit slow.

"Are you asking if I, Qiao Shuanglin, have any connection to those who pursue martial arts? Why do you ask?" Qiao Mu secretly chuckled, questioning.

He intentionally revealed his name.

"Anybody who pursues martial arts has an incredibly strong and inhuman body…" The Sword Ghost reminisced, with a face filled with longing.

"Hold on, I remember you mentioned earlier that to achieve martial arts mastery, one must first enter the Spiritual Refining Method?" Qiao Mu furrowed his brow and asked.

"First, spiritual refining, then body training?"

"Yes. The Golden Body Technique practiced by those who pursue the path of martial arts is divided into three realms: Copper Skin, Iron Bones, and Golden Body…" Feeling the urgency of the situation, Sword Ghost volunteered information before Qiao Mu could ask:

"It is said that the strength of a martial artist’s body is closely related to the level of spiritual refining. As a 3rd rank Spirit Refining martial artist like myself, I can only achieve the Copper Skin realm at most."

At this point in the story, Sword Ghost’s face suddenly showed extreme fear.

His eyes widened, filled with terror, then slowly turned blank. Finally, he lost focus, his pupils dilated, and he fell to the ground.

He died abruptly, out of nowhere.

"Just when the story was halfway through, why did he die so suddenly? I hadn’t even had a chance to ask about that Blood Sun Chart…"

Qiao Mu pondered. The Blood Sun Chart was probably in the possession of the Wan-family Chamber of Commerce… but that was not important. What concerned him more was the concept of martial arts leading to enlightenment.

Sword Ghost’s death was clearly not due to sudden death or a sudden illness, but because of the words he left unfinished.

"Ghosts? Life and death spell? Poison? Or the forbidden spells of the fairy path?" Many thoughts crossed Qiao Mu’s mind.

Whether it is martial arts or the fairy path, there are many ways to control people, but the fairy path spells are more clever and inconspicuous.

The abrupt death of the Sword Ghost adds a touch of mystery to the so-called "using martial arts to enter the path".

"Is he dead…" Qiao Mu suddenly turned his head and looked at Wei En and the person secretly watching from afar.

He had long noticed their surveillance, but he didn’t care, and even hoped that someone would watch.

The more people witnessed his impressive victory over the Sword Ghost, the more famous he would become.

"Are you the emperor’s lackeys?" He looked coldly at Wei En from a distance and sneered:

"When Sword Ghost tried to steal my Blood Moon Chart, you didn’t show up, but now you come, hoping to take advantage? Come on, I can handle as many people as you bring!"

"There are no cowards in my Qiao family who fear death!"

Qiao Mu spoke loudly and said:

"Remember my name well!"

"I am Qiao Shuanglin, one of the elders of the Qiao family in this generation!"

"The Qiao family’s motto is to repay kindness and repay debts!"

"My son, Qiao Zhong, died at the vegetable market, and his death will not end like this!"

Qiao Mu’s voice was like thunder, echoing in the darkness.

What humility? What endurance? What stability? What cowardice?

As someone who has been reckless since childhood and is still reckless in old age, Qiao Mu is always either causing trouble or on the path to causing trouble!

The more notorious he becomes, the bigger the trouble he can cause, and the higher the death toll!

As long as Qiao Mu keeps causing trouble, Qiao’s family’s reputation will eventually grow bigger and bigger like a snowball, and finally become famous in Zhong Province!