Gu Yang stood with a long saber in hand, its light sharp and cold, sweeping through with unchecked ferocity. With his strength alone, he had forcefully held back the attacks of several rebel army strongmen.
He paid no mind to the other Martial Artists at Blood Refining Perfection; though he was only at the Late Stage of Blood Refining himself, slaughtering those at Blood Refining Perfection was a trivial matter.
The person truly warranting Gu Yang's caution was the middle-aged military commander before him, a formidable man who had attained Mid-level Bone Refining with copper bone strength throughout his body.
"What a Young Master of Gu Family Manor, to possess such strength even at the Late Stage of Blood Refining. If you were to grow further, you would become a great enemy!"
"It is said that His Majesty once sent envoys to White Stone Dao to recruit your Gu Family Manor, but alas, your Gu Family refused."
"Since that's the case, you cannot be allowed to live!"
The middle-aged commander's expression was icy, his eyes full of deadly intent.
To him, the Gu Family Manor's rejection of the Divine Martial King's invitation meant they were already enemies.
Moreover, with Gu Yang personally leading people to stop him and his men, there was no ground for reconciliation.
For a fleeting moment.
The middle-aged commander had already decided, Gu Yang must not be spared.
As for whether killing Gu Yang would offend the Gu Family Manor, he held no concerns.
Once this deed was done, whether the Gu Family Manor would even exist remained a question.
With that thought in mind.
The middle-aged commander suddenly roared, "Release the signal arrows!"
Signal arrows soared into the sky, bursting forth in the twilight heavens, glaringly bright.
"You're as good as dead!"
Seeing his subordinates release the signal arrows, the middle-aged commander's face twisted savagely.
Gu Yang remained silent, yet his heart was already searching for a way out.
White Stone Dao belonged to Gu Family Manor.
The rebellion revolted.
Gu Yang certainly could not tolerate it.
Thus, upon learning of the rebel army's movements, he had led his Outer Hall Disciples to intercept them, only to find, a step too late, that Red Rock Village had been entirely slaughtered.
The conflict between both sides erupted.
Gu Yang had intended to execute the rebel army on the spot, only to discover a high-ranking Mid-level Bone Refining expert among them unexpectedly.
Clearly, the rebel army was seeking to gather others to their cause. Given the current situation, their chances of victory were slim.
Gu Yang was overtaken by the desire to retreat.
Although he fancied his own strength as not weak, if truly surrounded by the rebel army, escape would be difficult.
If the green hills are preserved, there will be wood to burn later.
"It's a bit too late to think of leaving now!"
The middle-aged commander discerned Gu Yang's thoughts, his expression ferocious, the murderous intent on his face utterly unmasked.
In the moment that followed, the middle-aged warrior brought his long saber slashing down with a cold light, a terrifying gust blustering wildly, as other Martial Artists at Blood Refining Perfection also struck out with full force.
Gu Yang too found escape impossible.
Gu Yang felt a powerful gust from behind and instinctively turned, swinging his saber, striking it squarely on a fist.
The saber strike powerful enough to split rocks and shatter steles, when it landed on the fist, seemed as if it hit the hardest Mystic Iron, leaving nothing but a white mark.
At the same time, a frightful force surged up the blade, causing Gu Yang's blood to roil and his body to stagger back several steps uncontrollably.
Seizing the opportunity, the middle-aged commander broke through Gu Yang's Blood Qi Gang Qi and mercilessly slashed at his body.
The saber pierced flesh.
Gu Yang's body was already flying sideways.
The disciples of the Gu Family Manor witnessed this scene, their expressions changing dramatically.
As Gu Yang's body flew sideways, just before landing, he forcibly twisted his body to stabilize himself. Landing on the ground, he propped himself up with his long saber. He had a fierce saber wound from his shoulder down across his chest, even his beating heart was faintly visible through the gash.
Martial Artists in the Blood Refining Realm possess robust bodies.
What would be a fatal injury for ordinary people was just a serious injury for Blood Refining Martial Artists.
Barely stopping the bleeding from the wound, Gu Yang's face was somewhat pale due to excessive blood loss, and it was then that he finally saw who had attacked him.
He saw that the person was a burly middle-aged man, his skin like cast bronze, and his muscles rippled as if containing explosive power.
"Not bad, being able to block a punch from me, Ji Zong, you as a mere Blood Refining Realm Martial Artist can indeed be proud!"
Ji Zong licked his lips, his eyes filled with mockery as he looked at Gu Yang.
Hearing the name Ji Zong, a flicker of change crossed Gu Yang's face.
"Divine Fist Vajra Ji Zong!!"
He is none other than the Sect Master of the Divine Fist Sect in Liuyun Prefecture, a power contender for Bone Refining Perfection in the Martial World.
Gu Yang had not expected such a formidable opponent to appear here, and from his stance, it was clear he had already pledged allegiance to the Divine Martial King Pei Jing, serving him.
Ji Zong cracked a slight smile: "It seems you've heard of my name. What a pity that today you have to die here. With your potential, had you not died, your future achievements would certainly be limitless. However, what I enjoy most is killing prodigies!"
Ji Zong took his time walking toward Gu Yang.
In his eyes, Gu Yang was nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter, so Ji Zong naturally was in no rush.
He loved feeling the fear emanating from his prey.
to Ji Zong's disappointment,
Gu Yang, from beginning to end, showed not a hint of fear on his face. Instead, he gripped the handle of his saber tightly as if preparing for a final desperate struggle.
"Why bother struggling in vain? It wouldn't matter even if your father came; I would not fear him, either. That Domineering Blade of his is nothing but a rat cowering in White Stone Dao, too afraid to come out."
"How dare you insult my father!"
Murder flashed across Gu Yang's eyes, while he slowly gathered the Blood Qi in his body, waiting for Ji Zong to step into his range of attack. He was ready to strike the moment Ji Zong did.
Now that he had suffered serious injuries, he could only strike one more blow.
"Hmph, insult or not, if he dares to show up here—"
Ji Zong let out a cold smile, but before he could finish speaking, a calm voice rang out.
"If I were to appear here, then what?"
Ji Zong's face instantly stiffened.
He saw a person in green robes walking slowly toward them, an indescribable oppressive aura spreading in the air. Both sides engaged in the battle had involuntarily stopped fighting.
All eyes fell upon the newcomer.
Gu Yang's expression relaxed.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the wounds on his body, his gaze growing even colder.
Gu Qingfeng turned to look at Ji Zong again, his face showing neither grief nor joy.
"I'll ask you one more time, if I have come, then what would you do?"
"Gu... Gu Qingfeng!!"
Ji Zong's face turned ghostly white. As their eyes met, a sensation of terror surged from within him.
He had never imagined that his idle boasting would actually bring this person to the scene.
A man's reputation is like a tree's shadow.
A half-step Master is a formidable being; this, Ji Zong understood all too well.
in the blink of an eye,
without uttering another word, Ji Zong made a hasty retreat and then turned tail and fled.