The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 271 - 83 Ji Tang (Still daily updates)

Chapter 271: Chapter 83 Ji Tang (Still daily updates)

A Straight Blade, ten mountain bandits.

One blade, ten heads, the blade light all stained with blood.

Ji Tang stuck his blade into the body of a bandit whose blood had not yet cooled, the blood light on the blade growing even more brilliant, sparkling with life. Opposite that, the bandits’ corpses were quickly shriveling up.

One after another, Ji Tang absorbed the fresh blood within the bandits’ bodies in a manner that made one’s hair stand on end.

It came down to the last one.

Ji Tang raised his blade as if to thrust it in, when he suddenly felt a blast of wind, slowly pressing down from the sky.

"Li—"

Ji Tang looked up, only to see a large white bird, gradually descending as it flapped its enormous and powerful wings.

The white bird was majestic, unlike any common species, with a white crest on its head and three long tail feathers that danced wildly in the air. Judging by its appearance, it closely resembled the mythical Phoenix from the legends.

If one were to name it, the bird should be called a "Luan Bird."

But no matter how extraordinary the Luan Bird was, it would not capture Ji Tang’s attention; it was, after all, just a beast. What truly drew Ji Tang’s focus was the black figure perched atop the white Luan Bird.

Clad in a black robe atop the white bird, it was certainly striking. What was even more eye-catching was the bronze mask worn upon the face.

"Gong Ziyu," Ji Tang slowly uttered the three words.

He had no doubt that nobody was masquerading as him, since in the worldly society, not a soul would dare to impersonate Gong Ziyu. Just as in the past, countless people might have pretended to be Yuan Jianyi, but those who would impersonate the Demon Young Master were one in a million; similarly, imposters of Gong Ziyu were virtually nonexistent.

Impersonating members of the Righteous Path might puff up one’s pride, and if you met the real deal, at worst you’d get a beat down. Even the pettiest of the Righteous people wouldn’t likely kill for it.

But impersonating Demonic People was different. Killing you wouldn’t be enough; they might even uproot the entire clan to make sure all debts were settled.

The notoriety of Gong Ziyu was now even greater than that of the Demon Young Master of the Demon Path; his bloodthirsty assassins, though they had not appeared in the worldly society for several months, were still within the realms that dared not speak loudly.

Moreover, if someone dared to impersonate Gong Ziyu without the power to back it up, they wouldn’t make it far on the road before being dispatched by a would-be hero.

"’Blood Saber Guest’ Ji Tang, I believe I’m not mistaken," Gong Ziyu said standing high upon the White Phoenix’s back, looking down at Ji Tang. "Ranked tenth on the Dragon and Phoenix List, the only prodigy of sectless background, you became wanted throughout the worldly society by the Great Zen Temple for murdering the monks of Miaobu Temple. Everyone thought you were still wandering in Ling Province, possibly on the lam in Qing Province, now occupied by Prince Zhen Shan. But they didn’t expect you to do the unexpected, running from the southernmost Ling Province to the Northern Zhou territory. Very impressive."

To be called "sectless" means to have no sect, no background, no teacher, a martial artist who relies on their own extraordinary encounters or self-created Martial Arts to rise.

Ji Tang could be said to be the prodigy among the sectless, the only person within decades to climb onto the Dragon and Phoenix List without any background, reigniting the belief in legends among countless youths.

Unfortunately, as rare as such a talent appears every hundred years, Ji Tang became infamous for slaughtering the entire Miaobu Temple, which greatly enraged the leading figures of the Buddhist establishment, the Great Zen Temple. Ji Tang was wanted throughout the worldly society, and the Great Zen Temple sought to capture Ji Tang to be converted by Buddhist Law or executed on the spot.

Ji Tang watched Gong Ziyu, who was looking down at him, with extreme wariness, his hand tightly gripping the Straight Blade as he said in a deep voice, "What, the Dragon Chief of the Azure Dragon Association, with bloody hands, also wishes to uphold justice?"

"No."

Gong Ziyu leapt down from the White Phoenix’s back, disregarding Ji Tang’s caution, and strolled to a spot three meters in front of Ji Tang, "I’m not here to kill you. Quite the opposite, I’m here to recruit you."

"Recruit?" Ji Tang asked in astonishment, "You’re not afraid of the Great Zen Temple?"

"Great Zen Temple? Ha," Qing Yu couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh, "Is it necessary? Do you think the folks at the Great Zen Temple will welcome the leader of assassins, Gong Ziyu, with open arms, or will they scream ’evil heresy, everyone has the right to kill him’?"

Hearing Qing Yu’s jest, Ji Tang couldn’t help but find his own earlier slip of the tongue amusing. When it came to blood-stained hands, the fellow opposite him had much more. Just the killing of Tian Bohu alone had impacted at least a hundred people, not to mention others.

To say he was afraid of the Great Zen Temple was indeed unnecessary.

Thinking this way, Ji Tang felt a bit tempted.

"What do you say, do you want to accept my offer? To say you wouldn’t have to worry about the Great Zen Temple in the future if you join me might be an overstatement. But as for those in the worldly society who want to capture you and curry favor with the Great Zen Temple, it’s a case of ’one comes, one dies; two come, a pair dies,’ until everyone is dead and no one dares to come forward."

Ji Tang’s temptation didn’t show on the surface, but it couldn’t escape Qing Yu’s ’Turtle Mirror,’ and he persistently urged on.

Grasping the emotions and intentions of an opponent — a potent tool in conversation — made Ji Tang even more tempted.

However...

"I’d like to see for myself if you have the strength to back up those words."

As a thug who fought his way through the martial world, Ji Tang didn’t listen to rumors; he only believed what he saw.

No sooner said than done, Ji Tang’s Straight Blade glimmered with a bloody light, the crimson on it still seeming to flow like actual blood, as he swiftly angled to slash towards the opponent’s chest and abdomen.

It could be considered a sneak attack. However, Ji Tang didn’t care. If Gong Ziyu could be injured or even killed by such a move, then that would be all there was to him, and if he died, he died.

"Heh."

A light chuckle, it was unclear whether it was out of disdain or ease.

Just when Ji Tang’s Blood Saber was raised, it was immediately stilled by an immense invisible force, unable to advance nor retract.

"This..."

Before Ji Tang could utter another word, he felt himself receiving the same treatment as his blade, the invisible forces from all directions rendering him completely immobile.

"What is this?"

The response he received was a calm and composed voice, "Qiankun Great Shifting."

Although the ’Qiankun Great Shifting’ obtained from Zhu Wushi wasn’t as powerful when used by Qing Yu due to a lack of immense True Energy, when it came to the skillful control and manipulation, not even Zhu Wushi could hold a candle to him.

Especially after integrating countless Martial Arts with the Ten Thousand Paths, Qing Yu was able to invoke the ’Qiankun Great Shifting’ through mere Thought, without lifting a hand or foot, leaving Ji Tang, a lesser being still within the Innate Realm, immobilized like an insect trapped in amber, devoid of any ability to move.

"How about it, have you recognized the strength?" Qing Yu said with a smile.

After Ji Tang struggled with all his might several times to no avail, he finally gave up struggling. With his forehead covered in sweat, he looked in awe at Qing Yu, who had defeated him without lifting a finger, his eyes filled with horror, fear, and reverence.

Qing Yu watched Ji Tang’s emotions change with amusement, as the Ten Thousand Paths subtly activated, the invisible Power of Thought slowly eroding Ji Tang’s spirit, manipulating his emotions towards Qing Yu.

"I yield..." Ji Tang finally admitted.

Following those words, the immobilizing force around him released, and under the compelling sense of reverence and submission rising inexplicably within him, he bowed slowly, paying homage, "I pay my respects to the Dragon Chief."