Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 146: Star Plucking Hand (Requesting monthly passes!)

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Star Plucking Hand (Requesting monthly passes!)

In the vast expanse of the square’s center lay an enormous fighting stage.

The surface of the stage was painted with red lacquer, some areas still not dry, resembling flowing crimson blood, exuding an ominous atmosphere that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Surrounding the stage were the hundreds of disciples of the San Shan Sect, standing solemnly, their silent presence exerting an oppressive force.

This was the disadvantage of fighting on foreign territory, for Martial Arts experts are sensitive in spirit. Faced with so many malicious gazes, their own skills inevitably weakened by a fraction.

Before the bloodied stage, there were a few Taishi Chairs, where Meng Tian and several renowned elders of Jianghu sat as witnesses to the event.

Luo Shanshan looked at the people of Shanyao Gang, stepped forward, and declared loudly, "The grievances of Jianghu shall be settled within Jianghu, let us settle life and death here today..."

"Cough cough!"

Meng Tian coughed loudly and announced, "Today, the remaining members of Shanyao Gang and the San Shan Sect will duel on this bloody stage. Each side will send ten people, taking turns to fight to the death... On the side of Shanyao Gang, Liu Yi must participate, and on the side of the San Shan Sect, the Sect Master and elders must fight. No outside help shall be sought by either party, and after this battle, if Shanyao Gang wins, San Shan Sect shall cede Little Mountain City. If San Shan Sect wins, Shanyao Gang shall never again mention their grievances. Do either of you object?"

He read the declaration loudly three times and, seeing no objections from either side, waved his hand, "Then let’s begin!"

’To say that after this battle the grievances will be settled is but a facade. In reality, both our Sect Master, elders, and I are to ascend the stage. Once one side is left dead, there will be no one left to fight...’ Zhong Shenxiu glanced back at Wei Baizhu and the others, cracked a sudden smile, then gracefully stepped onto the stage.

He had been prepared to take the stage alone; Wei Baizhu and the others were not his concern.

In a gauntlet match such as this, as long as he took down ten in a row, his other companions could simply cheer him on.

Otherwise, sending any of the remainders would be nothing more than courting death.

He stood quietly on the blood-red stage, calmly gazing at the disciples of San Shan Sect, his expression unchanging.

Luo Shanshan made eye contact with him and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

’Such composure, if it were another day, he might truly make a name for himself in Jianghu... Alas, a hero to others is an enemy to me!’

With a wave of his hand, the disciples of San Shan Sect dispersed and a young man in blue slowly emerged.

Seeing him, Wei Baizhu’s expression changed, and Wei Hongyao covered her mouth, her eyes welling with tears, "Brother Huo of the Huo family? What happened to you?"

This person was none other than her fiancé, an elite disciple of Shanyao Gang—Huo Qingtian!

Wei Hongyao had believed that her betrothed had been lost in Little Mountain City, and had secretly wept for him on several occasions.

But unexpectedly, he reappeared in this world today!

She was not alone in her shock; once Wei Baizhu came to his senses, he was uncontrollably outraged, "Traitor... You’ve turned traitor!"

Senior Brother Li and others realized that since Huo Qingtian was alive and well, donning the apparel of a disciple of the San Shan Sect, he must have obviously joined the enemy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this Huo Qingtian is now a disciple of our sect, sworn to serve our cause, and he shall commence the first match for us today," said Luo Shanshan with a hint of smugness on his face.

Every person has a weakness.

When Shanyao Gang was defeated that day, many disciples’ families were trapped within the city walls and came under our control—how could they have escaped?

Being unable to escape, kneeling and surrendering was the natural course of action.

In reality, those like Wei Baizhu who are resolute in seeking revenge are in the minority, while the majority have surrendered.

Now, sending out a skilled fighter to engage in a blood duel, it mattered not which of them died.

If they could deeply wound the spirit of that Liu Yi in the process, all the better.

"Brother Huo, please proceed," Zhong Shenxiu said, expressionless, with a cupped-fist salute.

"Brother Xun, I had no choice... This is Jianghu!"

Huo Qingtian’s face seemed to cry and laugh, as he slowly raised his palm.

Zhong Shenxiu glimpsed that the man was brimming with vigor and his Inner Strength was not lacking, the Medicine Sand Palm was at least seventy to eighty percent accomplished.

Placed in the former Shanyao Gang, these were elite disciples, and Xun Liuyi would have had to look up to such existence.

"The gang has been broken, life hangs by a thread, submitting to the enemy is one thing."

"But to aid a tyrant, to cause brothers of the past difficulties, to make loved ones grieve and enemies rejoice, it’s a grave mistake..."

He sighed, scanned with a glance, and saw seven or eight flaws in Huo Qingtian’s palm, casually picking one and striking out with his own palm.

Smack!

Huo Qingtian’s chest caved in significantly, he spat blood all the way and tumbled off the stage.

By the time he hit the ground, he was already a corpse.

No matter how many reasons he had, how much unwillingness, stepping onto the life and death stage meant being prepared for death!

This, too, is part of Jianghu!

"Next!"

Zhong Shenxiu indifferently withdrew his hand and looked towards Luo Shanshan.

He really wasn’t familiar with these people, even with the previous Xun Liuyi, it’s possible that he was bullied, thinking there were good brothers was just wishful thinking.

Therefore, even if he were to slaughter from top to bottom, he would just regard it as killing enemies, without a ripple in his heart.

Luo Shanshan’s face twitched, and he waved for another person to come forward, also from the Shanyao Gang, who leaped onto the stage. Before he could utter a few words, Zhong Shenxiu killed him with a palm strike and threw him down.

In a blink of an eye, five corpses lay beneath the blood-soaked stage, their terrifying presence causing the numerous disciples of the Three Mountains Sect to shudder.

Great Elder Nie Rufe stepped forward, "Sect Master, there’s no need for further probing. This man’s martial skills are not inferior to ours, and his character is even more ruthless. None of these can sway his spirit in the slightest... Given time, he’ll become a nightmare!"

"This is also our luck, he won’t have the chance to grow anymore."

Confident, Luo Shanshan patted his palms.

Another Martial Artist dressed in Three Mountains Sect attire came forward, no longer a traitor of the Shanyao Gang.

And looking at this person, Zhong Shenxiu’s expression became solemn for the first time.

This person felt somewhat similar to Gu Qingying, a powerhouse, probably already past the Blood Swapping threshold!

In his field of view, not only was this person’s vitality rich, it had even condensed into a mass, extremely refined.

"Ah... you... aren’t you ranked 105th on the list of top martial artists, Luo Kongtuo, the Star Plucking Hand?"

Meng Tian rubbed his eyes, uttering his doubts.

At the Shanyao Hall, Wei Baizhu, who was still in grief, exploded immediately, "Luo Shanshan, you sneaky fox, didn’t you say no external help was allowed?!"

"Let me enlighten you all..." Luo Shanshan smirked proudly, "This Young Hero Luo Kongtuo is my distant nephew by blood. His martial skills were acquired by chance and he has not entered any other sects. And just yesterday, under the witness of the elders in Little Mountain City, he joined the San Shan Sect and was appointed as the Sect Leader’s disciple... How can he not represent us in battle?"

"Although only one hundred and eight young warriors are ranked, anyone who makes it to the list has surely crossed the Blood Swapping threshold, and their combat power is strong even among Blood Swapping Warriors... Xun Liuyi is in danger. I was wondering why that old fox agreed so readily, he had a trump card prepared!" Meng Tian’s thoughts stirred, and he grew concerned.

The San Shan Sect’s expansion of power was something the Nine Elements Sect could ignore before because the small gang didn’t have any top-notch Masters.

But with the Star Plucking Hand joining, everything changed.

"Brother Xun, come down quickly, let’s not fight anymore..."

In the Shanyao Hall, Wei Hongyao cried out in pain, as Wei Baizhu’s face turned pale.

A duel for blood, isn’t child’s play.

Not to mention that surrender was utterly impossible, even if one fled, as the hosts and witnesses, the Nine Elements Sect was duty-bound to hunt them down to death, else they would be despised by everyone in Jianghu!