Realm-Hopping Martial Master

Blades clashed. Jiang Shu's True Strength burst forth from his arms.

Vermilion Bird True Strength, at that moment, seemed to boil all the qi and blood in his body. Azure Dragon True Strength gathered intensely in his eyes.

He clearly saw Nie Gaozhan's ferocious, eagle-like strike. He even mobilized the True Strength of Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength, which had broken its limit. His feet stomped the ground, his power seemingly endless.

Hurricane Three Changes. An afterimage remained standing in place.

The blade in Jiang Shu's hands did not stop.

The Four Seasons Blade Technique was a formless technique that captured intent and valued momentum.

Chop, slash, flick, cleave, pick, intercept, push, stab, slide, stir, disrupt, tap, pull.

The thirteen fundamental forms of the blade technique could each be an autumn wind! The exchange lasted only a few short seconds.

Nie Gaozhan's eyes filled with horror, like a tide surging towards him. He wasn't some inexperienced Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist from the county town. He was a man from Black Mountain County, well aware that Refining Internal Realm Cultivation Techniques were graded. The Three Eagles Gathering Internal Force he cultivated, for example, was a Cultivation Technique coveted by many in the Refining Internal Realm within the county city. But compared to the real thing, it was nothing. This nameless man, though he had only executed a few slashes, the convergence of four kinds of True Strength was enough to prove he was definitely no ordinary person! Either it was one Cultivation Technique that came with four kinds of True Strength, or it was multiple Cultivation Techniques that cultivated four kinds of True Strength. Either way, it was freakish among freaks. Moreover, this blade technique, this movement technique—neither was ordinary. As the County Magistrate, there was absolutely no need to make an enemy of such a person, especially since the man clearly had no killing intent.

Retreating explosively, Nie Gaozhan began to show fear. "Friend, could there be some misunderstanding?"

"No misunderstanding."

Nie Gaozhan showed fear, but Jiang Shu had no intention of stopping his attack.

The autumn wind rose. The sound of the blade was sharp.

Jiang Shu knew well that Nie Gaozhan only appeared to have stepped back. The moment he heard Jiang Shu wanted to kill his concubine, he would undoubtedly draw his blade again. This wasn't because County Magistrate Nie loved his concubine that much. Rather, it was because he didn't know the Yao Family had been annihilated. He believed the Yao Family still existed. So, when the concubine they had promised him died inexplicably in the county yamen, it was a slap in the face to County Magistrate Nie!

"You!" Nie Gaozhan gripped his blade, his breathing becoming uncontrollably chaotic. What the hell is this situation? Jiang Shu's attack had proven his strength was definitely not weaker than his own. If there was enmity, fighting would be natural. But now, it seemed he had been implicated without cause? Shit!

He blocked horizontally with his blade, his body suddenly ducking low. An Elixir slipped from his sleeve into his palm, and he swallowed it in one gulp. The medicinal power quickly spread through his limbs and entire body.

A fierce look flashed in Nie Gaozhan's eyes, and his blade technique changed as he immediately resorted to his trump card. The official's robe billowed as his True Strength burst forth.

"Good!" Jiang Shu uttered a low sound of approval. Watching this strike, which slashed upwards like an eagle soaring into the clouds, he employed the Little Dipper Steps.

After months of cultivation, he had already broken the limit of this footwork. It was now comparable to some low-level Middle Grade Martial Arts of the Da Jing Dynasty.

The Autumn Wind style was too lethal, relentlessly pressing forward. Against such an insidious strike, it was actually impossible to defend.

Therefore, the blade technique changed.

Azure Dragon True Strength.

Spring Rain!

Nie Gaozhan's strike had clearly been prepared for a long time, the timing chosen perfectly. Their blades met.

Three currents of True Strength surged through the battle blade into Jiang Shu's arm. An ordinary Refining Internal Realm Martial Artist would have definitely suffered a setback.

But Jiang Shu was cultivating the Four Symbols Internal Energy, a Middle Grade Cultivation Technique from the Da Jing Dynasty ranked sixteenth!

The Azure Dragon True Strength instantly began to heal the minor injuries on his arm.

His alloy battle blade struck down with immense force! A small chip was shockingly knocked out of Nie Gaozhan's treasured blade!

"Again!" A low shout erupted.

Jiang Shu changed his blade technique once more.

In their previous exchange, the flashes of blades and True Strength had shattered numerous rockery stones. Presumably, some nearby yamen runners must be rushing over by now.

In that case, why not make the commotion even bigger!

Vermilion Bird True Strength.

Summer Thunder!

Looking at the explosion of strike after strike, at that figure in the dead of night—radiating heat like fire, his qi and blood surging, thrumming with power—Nie Gaozhan was on the verge of collapse!

Though he had already overestimated Jiang Shu, he had never imagined that this man before him would be so difficult to deal with. In terms of internal organ refinement, this man is clearly inferior to me. But the variations in his True Strength and the sheer number of his Martial Arts completely exceed my understanding. His movement technique is a Middle Grade Martial Art. His blade technique is also a Middle Grade Martial Art. Such monsters are rarely seen even in the county city, right?

Outside the county yamen, torches were held high, and waves of footsteps approached.

"Stand back! It is I, your Magistrate, sparring with a friend," Nie Gaozhan shouted loudly.

The clash between Refining Internal Realm experts was terrifying. Let alone ordinary yamen runners, even the Chief Registrar, a Bone Forging Realm expert, could be decapitated if not careful!

The fight between the two became increasingly perilous. True Strength burst forth, and blade light flashed in all directions!

A whooshing sound came from outside, followed by a stern shout, "What fiend dares to cause trouble here!"

Blade light flared intensely, and a familiar move appeared before Jiang Shu's eyes. It was none other than White Tiger Carrying the Corpse!

Could this be... Old Qiu?

Jiang Shu narrowed his eyes. The Old Qiu before him was obviously disguised. His figure was no longer stooped; he was masked, and his voice sounded like that of a middle-aged man.

A perfect opportunity! An idea flashed through Nie Gaozhan's mind as his eyes narrowed. He knew a little about the previous County Magistrate, Qiu Yushan, and understood that Pingling County had a capable Hidden Guard. Therefore, despite the Yao Family sending concubines and various resources, he had always accepted them all but refrained from doing too much. The territorial disputes between the major families were left for them to resolve themselves. As long as he didn't get too much blood on his hands, the Hidden Guard naturally wouldn't overstep. Perhaps it was because Pingling County under his jurisdiction was still relatively stable that the Hidden Guard would step in to help today. With the two of them, taking down a madman of the same realm should be no problem at all!

Nie Gaozhan took another Elixir opportunistically, tending to some of his injuries. His gaze was fixed tightly on the two combatants in the courtyard, waiting for the most opportune moment to deliver a thunderous blow!

Black Tiger Heart-picking.

Fierce Tiger Jumping.

White Tiger Carrying the Corpse.

Three blade forms were unleashed one after another.

Old Qiu's blade technique was ferocious, but Jiang Shu merely used the fundamental Little Dipper Steps to evade. He was all too familiar with these three blade forms. In fact, having broken their limits, he was even more familiar with these three blade forms than Old Qiu. Even if Old Qiu was stronger, how could his attainment in these three strikes compare to his, who had grinded them to the Break Limit stage? Moreover, Old Qiu's qi and blood had already declined. He was certainly a bit stronger than Zuo Dechun from Black Mountain County, but compared to himself, there was still a considerable gap!

Jiang Shu executed the Little Dipper Steps, feigning slight fatigue.

Sure enough, after only a few breaths, Nie Gaozhan, who had been waiting quietly aside while conserving his strength, launched a fierce surprise attack!

All the True Strength in his body coated the treasured blade. The treasured blade hummed, its cry like an eagle soaring high above!

Seeing this ferocious strike, Jiang Shu couldn't help but let out a long howl!

Combat is the best way to increase proficiency. The panel in his mind updated.

Four Seasons Blade Technique, Summer Thunder, Small Success!

Vermilion Bird True Strength, Small Success!

This strike was Jiang Shu's true eruption of power. It was as if a Vermilion Bird within his heart was about to spread its fiery wings. Flames, along with the qi and blood in his body, burned in unison. Tremendous power burst forth.

It actually sent Nie Gaozhan's treasured blade flying from his grasp!

In an instant, the alloy battle blade in his hand was pressed against the County Magistrate's neck. The blade's edge was a mere millimeter from his neck.

For a time, the courtyard fell silent. Old Qiu dared not move his blade any further. Nie Gaozhan broke out in a cold sweat.

A desolate autumn wind rustled through the courtyard.

Jiang Shu sheathed his blade and stood composed. "I came here this time only to kill your concubine, Yao Yuwen of the Yao Family," he said. "But since we've already fought, I suppose this matter doesn't require my personal intervention anymore, does it?"

"Alright!" Several drops of cold sweat condensed on Nie Gaozhan's forehead. His face flushed then paled, and he clenched his teeth before turning to leave!

Outmatched, there was nothing more to say. It was just a concubine. Losing face was better than losing his life! Although he knew this seemingly ferocious man definitely wouldn't dare to take his life. After all, he was an official of the Da Jing Dynasty. Even if he was just a minor County Magistrate, he truly had the Dynasty backing him. If any ordinary Martial Artist dared to kill him, the Dynasty's Hidden Guard would dig three feet deep to find them and grind their bones to dust! But his own life was precious; why should he gamble it against someone else's?

Watching Nie Gaozhan's retreating figure, Jiang Shu finally turned his head to look at Old Qiu, who was completely stunned by his last strike. Reverting to his original voice, he spoke softly to the utterly astonished Old Qiu, "Master Qiu, please forgive my impertinence just now, Disciple Jiang Shu."