The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

In a small grove on the outskirts of Hong Province, a group of four people were rushing anxiously.

All four had imposing, sturdy statures and slightly dark skin. As they dashed hastily, their Qi Force inadvertently leaked, leaving black streaks on the ground.

"Big Brother, we've been chased by those bastards from the Blood Robe Building for three days now, and they still cling to us like death. Why not turn around and fight them?"

Among the four, one person gasped as he ran.

After being pursued for three days and nights without rest, even these Martial Artists with extraordinary Martial Arts began to tire. If they kept running, perhaps they wouldn't be killed by the assassins, but rather die of exhaustion themselves.

"We've tried fighting back before, but what use was it? The Blood Robe Building has inherited the Assassin tasks from the Azure Dragon Association, and what they have no shortage of are expendable assassins. We'd better run quickly into the nearby city and hide our tracks."

The man called "Big Brother," a middle-aged man, replied without turning his head.

"Such wishful thinking."

A snicker came from mid-air, followed by an attack of gloomy green Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi was as fast as lightning. With a loop, the Big Man at the end was decapitated in an instant. His head, that of the Six Yang Leader, flew up into the air, spinning and revealing an expression of terror.

"You scum from Purgatory Peak were not easy to catch up with."

A dark shadow, flickering with dark green Sword Light, appeared in front of the three Big Men. It was a blood-haired man dressed in a black robe.

On the black robe, the words Xuan Yin were embroidered with dark green silk thread, seemingly a symbol of status, flaunted by the blood-haired man for all to see.

"Ji Tang!" the leading "Big Brother" spat out the name of the man blocking their path, grinding his teeth.

"Indeed, it's me," Ji Tang said with a smile, eyeing the three Big Men who wore expressions of hatred as if he were looking at lambs to the slaughter, "Gentlemen, your time has come. Please, be on your way."

The long sword, radiating gloomy green Sword Light, swept across in a horizontal slash, and the extremely Yin and malevolent Sword Qi appeared abruptly, piercing the hearts of the three men in an instant, extracting all of their essence blood into the Sword Qi.

"Four Divine Origins, that should be the last of Purgatory Peak in this area. If one wants to kill again, they will have to target the Six Gates next."

The main activity area of Purgatory Peak was still in the south; those in the north were mainly the ones that had previously gone to Northern Zhou. Now, after being swept up by the Three Demonic Sects and the actions of Qing Yu, the disciples of Purgatory Peak in the Northern regions had basically been wiped out.

"The Six Gates, they are much tougher to deal with than the muscle-brained brutes of Purgatory Peak…"

"Who's there?!"

Suddenly, Ji Tang swung his sword horizontally. Sword Light swept behind him, and the dark green Sword Qi flashed with ghostly light, clearly revealing the true power of Xuanyin Sword Energy he had summoned within his body.

But even such a sword strike was effortlessly blocked by what appeared to be a somewhat shabby, black long sword.

The black long sword, or rather black Stone Sword, cast entirely from black stone was seamless and smooth, as though it had been carved from black rock.

Four notches adorned the sword edge – it looked quite ordinary and worn.

However, this seemingly ordinary and worn Stone Sword was held by an extraordinary figure.

When Ji Tang turned around, what stood out most were the man's eyes.

Numb yet maniacal, as if in pursuit of something, or obsessed over something. These were eyes filled with despair yet seeking hope, and upon seeing them, Ji Tang felt as though his own were stung.

"Who might you be?" Ji Tang blinked, adjusting to the sting from a moment ago.

"Use that gloomy green Sword Qi, or die right here."

The Swordsman in hemp clothing, holding the gaze of Ji Tang with his numb yet frenzied eyes, suddenly burst forth with a fierce sword momentum, his figure lunged forward, and the black Stone Sword swung out with a grim and mad resolve.

"You—"

There was no time for further words; Ji Tang's sword danced swiftly, clashing with the black stone sword for several exchanges in an instant.

Sword shadows flashed and vanished, Ji Tang suddenly leapt several times, dodging a few Sword Qi attacks, and stopped ten steps away.

Looking down at his sword, the once extraordinary Treasure Sword was now covered with marks, appearing as though it would shatter at any moment.

"Who on earth are you?" Ji Tang demanded, filled with astonishment and anger.

Ever since he had acquired the Xuanyin Sword Energy, this was the first time he had been utterly overwhelmed by someone using pure Sword Dao. In the few strokes they exchanged, the opponent had not used Power exceeding his own, yet Ji Tang had been thoroughly crushed.

"The end of the path brings stormy surprises, Jue Jian carves divergent roads. In the worldly society, all call me Sword Madman." The hemp-clad Swordsman replied calmly, like Jing with no ripples.

"Jue Jian Sword Madman." The name slipped out of Ji Tang's mouth.

The Jue Jian Sword Madman, second on the ground rankings, a notorious Sword Madman in the worldly society, sought out famous swordsmen everywhere for swordfights, to determine both victory and defeat, and life and death.

His sword was filled with a crazed, tragic momentum as though on the verge of despair. Each stroke bore the weight of ten thousand jun, forging a path where none existed. Thus, he was called "Jue Jian Sword Madman."

"Open your mind, let that one sword dominate your Will; otherwise, you will die with the next strike."

The Jue Jian Sword Madman stood with his sword erect in front of him, peering at Ji Tang's eyes through the sides of the sword blade, with wild and fierce Sword Intent shining, the mere eye contact creating a sensation of being pricked.

'Here it comes again...' Ji Tang blinked, finally making up his mind, 'If it's the Jue Jian Sword Madman, then there's nothing to be done.'

This was an enemy he absolutely could not defeat. He knew the other was right; if he didn't let that one sword take over his Will, with the next strike, he would indeed die.

"Inhale—Exhale—"

Taking a deep breath, then exhaling, Ji Tang's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind merging with the dark green sword shadow in his heart.

"Zing—"

The sudden opening of his eyes seemed to trigger a sword's hum, Ji Tang's eyes turned dark green, and a dark red sword mark appeared on his forehead.

"Qiankun Renwoxing."

Mind, body, and sword as one, Ji Tang's long sword seemed to pierce through space, striking the stone sword edge held in front of the Jue Jian Sword Madman.

'That's it!'

In that instant, the Jue Jian Sword Madman seemed to see hope, as the stone sword unleashed an explosive sword momentum, clashing with the dark green long sword on its edge.

"Zing, zing, zing..."

The continuous hum of swords, the Sword Intent from their clashes tearing through the air, filling the sky with countless echoing sword cries.

"Boom—"

The dark green Sword Qi and the fierce sword momentum erupted in another collision, Ji Tang's body suddenly bearing four sword marks, he was thrown backward.

Excitement flickered across the Jue Jian Sword Madman's face; he stepped forward, grabbed Ji Tang's long sword by the blade, stopping his retreat.

Sharp Sword Qi left trails of wounds in his hand. Even with a Sword Body deeply cultivated, expecting to withstand Xuanyin Sword Energy on physical toughness alone was undoubtedly daydreaming.

Sword Qi infiltrated the wounds, but the Jue Jian Sword Madman's face only became more fervent.

"This... is the path ahead for me."

A strong unwillingness brewed an insatiable desire, cutting through thorns and obstacles; he was willing to sacrifice everything for the determination to grasp hope, sparking a bizarre transformation.